Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 03.djvu/118

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DABNEY
DABNEY

to the presidency of the University of Tennessee. He was elected a member of the American and German chemical societies, of the American institute of mining engineers, and of the Virginia historical society. He received the degree of Ph.D. from the University of Göttingen in 1880 and that of LL.D. from Davidson college in 1889. He published papers in the scientific journals of points in organic and agricultural chemistry; a large number of bulletins, and five annual re- ports of the experiment station, and many papers and addresses on educational, historical and literary subjects. As assistant secretary of agriculture, he edited the scientific publications of the department especially the Farmers' bulletins and the year book.

DABNEY, Julia Parker, author, was born in Fayal, Azores, Sept. 2, 1850; daughter of William H. and Marianne (Parker) Dabney; granddaughter of John Bass and Roxa (Lewis) Dabney and of Albert and Julia (Dabney) Parker, and a descendant from Robert and Elizabeth D'Aubigné, French Huguenots, who came to America early in the eighteenth century. Julia removed at an early age to Teneriffe, Canary Islands, where her father was U.S. consul, 1862-82. She was educated at home and studied art with several Spanish painters. In 1868 she studied in Boston under William M. Hunt and Helen M. Knowlton. In 1873 she removed to Boston, where she engaged in painting and later in sculpture. This was eventually laid aside in consequence of ill health. After some years of inactivity she gave her attention to literature, writing short stories and poems for the leading periodicals. Her published volumes include: Songs of Destiny (1898); and two novels: Little Daughter of the Sun (1896); and Poor Chola (1897), the subjects of both having been drawn from the picturesque island life.

DABNEY, Richard Heath, educator, was born at Memphis. Tenn., March 29, 1860; son of Virginius and Maria (Heath) Dabney. He prepared for college in his father's school and was graduated M.A. from the University of Virginia in 1881. He taught school during the year 1881-82 and studied history, politics and economics in the universities of Munich, Berlin and Heidelberg, 1882-85. He returned to the United States in 1885 and in 1886 accepted the chair of history in the University of Indiana. In 1889 he became adjunct professor of history in the University of Virginia. In 1896 he was made assistant professor of history and in 1897 full professor of historical and economical science. Heidelberg conferred upon him the degree of Ph.D. in 1885. He is the author of: The Causes of the French Revolution (1888); John Randolph (1898).

DABNEY, Robert Lewis, educator, was born in Louisa county, Va.. March 3, 1820; son of Charles and Elizabeth (Price) Dabney; grandson of Samuel and Jane (Meriwether) Dabney, and great-grandson of William Dabney. He was graduated at the University of Virginia in 1842, studied theology at the Union seminary, Hampden-Sidney, Va., and was ordained a Presbyterian clergyman in 1847. He preached at Tinkling Springs, Augusta county, Va., 1847-53; and was professor of church history in Union theological seminary, Va., 1853-83. He served during the civil war in the Confederate army, first as chaplain and later as chief of staff to Gen. T. J. Jackson. He was professor of moral philosophy in the University of Texas, 1883-98. Hampden-Sidney college conferred upon him the degree of D.D. in 1853, and that of LL.D. in 1877, and in the latter year he received the degree of LL.D. from the Southwestern Presbyterian university, Tenn. He is the author of: Life of the Rev. Dr. F. S. Sampson (1854) ; Life of Gen. T. J. ("Stonewall") Jackson (1864); Sacred Rhetoric (1866); Defence of Virginia and the South (1868); Sensualistic Philosophy of the Nineteenth Century Considered (1876); Systematic and Polemic Theology (1878); The Christian Sabbath (1881); Collected Discussions (4 vols., 1891-92); and Practical Philosophy (1897). He died at Victoria, Texas, Jan. 3, 1898.

DABNEY, Samuel Wyllys, U.S. consul, was born at Fayal, Azores, Jan. 6, 1826; son of Charles William and Frances Alsop (Pomeroy) Dabney, and grandson of John Bass Dabney. His father, known by the natives of Fayal as "father of the poor," succeeded his father, John Bass Dabney, as U.S consul at Fayal, serving from 1826 to 1871. Samuel became a clerk in his father's office and in 1858 was appointed deputy consul, succeeding to the consulship on the death of his father, March 12, 1871, and holding the office until 1892, when he was succeeded by Lewis Dexter. He performed many acts of bravery and humanity during his government service and with the aid of his son rescued the survivors of a wrecked French bark, for which act they received gold medals from the French government and similar tokens from President Hayes and from the Massachusetts humane society. He purchased food which he sold to the famishing inhabitants of the islands at cost. For this service he was offered the title of commendador and was also thanked by the King of Portugal. For natural history specimens sent to the Paris museum he received a Sèvres vase from the minister of public instruction, and a silver medal from the municipality of Paris. He died in San Diego, Cal., Dec. 26, 1893.