Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 10.djvu/388

This page needs to be proofread.

AVHARTON


WHAUTON


of Tljomas Isaac and Arabella (Griffith) "Wharton ;

nimlsou of Isaac and Margaret (Rawle) Wharton

and of John and Mary (Corre) Griffith, and great- grandson of Joseph and Hannah (Carpenter) Wharton. He was graduated from Yale, A.B., 1839. A.M., 18.")6; was admitted to the bar in 1S43, an.l established himself in the practice of law in Philadelpliia. He was assistant attorney- general in 1845, and in 1856 he retired from his law practice and was appointed professor of English history and literature, logic and rhetoric at Kenyon college. Ohio, where he remained till 1SG3. when he was ordained to the Protestant Episcopal ministry and became rector of St. Paul's clnirch, Brookline. Mass. He was professor of ecclesiastical polity, homiletics. and pastoral care at the Episcopal Theological school ; of inter- national law at Boston university ; lecturer on criminal law at Columbian university, Washing- ton D.C., 1885-86. and professor of criminal law, 1886-88. He was appointed solicitor for the de- partment of state and examiner of international claims in 1885. and in 1888. under resolution of congress, he was made editor of the Revolutionary diplomatic correspondence of the United States. He was twice married : first Nov. 4, 1852, to Sidney, daughter of Comegys and Sarah (Rod- man) Paul of Pliiladelphia, and secondly, Dec. 27. 1860. to Helen Elizabeth, daughter of Lewis R. and Mary (Hazelliurst) Ashhurst of Phil- adelphia. The honorary degree of LL.D. was conferred on him by Kenyon college in 1865 and by tlie University of Edinburgh in 1883, and that of D.D. by Kenyon college in 1866. He was as- sociated with Charles E. Lex in editing the Epis- copnl Recorder of Philadelpliia, and is the author of -.4 Treatise on the Criminal Law of the United States (1846) ; The State Trials of the United States, during the Administrations of Washing- ton a)id Adams (1849) ; Precedents of Indictments and Pleas adapted to Use, both of the Courts of the United States, and those of the Several States (1849); A Treatise on the Law of Homicide in the United States (1855) ; A Treatise on Medical Jurisprnd-'nce irith Dr. Moreton Stille (1855) ; Treatise on Theism and Modern Slceptical Theo- ries (1859) ; The Silence of Scripture, a Series of Lectures (1867) ; ^4 Treatise on the Conflict of Latvs (1872) ; The Lfiiv of Agenci/ and Agents (1876) ; Digest of International Law (1886). He died in Washington. D.C., Feb. 21,1889.

WHARTON, Gabriel Colvin, soldier, was born in Cul()<'pfr county. Va., July 23. 1824 ; son of John and Eliza (Colvin 1 Wharton; grandson of Sam- uel and Letitia (Hutchinson) Wharton ; great- grandson of William and Elizaljetii (Alsop) Wharton, and a descendant of George Wharton who emigrated from England in 1620. Samuel Wharton was a patriot during the Revolution


and was seriously wounded at Yorktown in the last charge of the Americans before the surrender of Cornwallis. Gabriel C. Wharton was graduated at the Virginia militar\' institute in 1847, and was engaged as civil engineer in Virginia and in the we.st until April 19, 1861, when, learning that Virginia had passed the ordinance of secession, he joined the corps of engineers and was com- missioned 2d lieutenant. He was promoted major of the 45th Virginia infantry in June, 1861, and in August was promoted colonel of the 51st Virginia infantry. He fought at Carnifex Ferry Sept. 10, 1861, under Floyd ; at Fort Doneison commanded the 1st brigade of Floyd's division, and served in the Kanawha Valley, fighting at Princeton, W. Va.. May 16, 1862, under Humphrey Marshall. He was married. May 14,

1863, to Ann, daughter of John and Elizabeth Radford of Montgomery county, Va. He was promoted brigadier-general, July 8, 1863 : covered the retreat of General Lee's army until it readied Orange countj',Va., and then was withdrawn from the Shenandoah Valley and joined Lee. In May,

1864, under John C. Breckinridge, he returned to the Vallej-, fought at New Market, Va., May 15, 1864, and rejoined Lee, Maj' 19 ; but on June 7, was sent to Rockport Gap, to oppose Hunter, and thence to Lynchburg, General Early arriving later in the afternoon. Wharton fought the Union cavalry at Lynchburg, Va., June 18, 1864, participated in the defeat of Hunter, the march against Sigel, the battle with Lewis Wallace at Monocacy, Md., July 9, 1864, and the march to Washington, D.C. During the campaign against Sheridan, Wharton commanded a division under Early, and while acting as the advance of Early's command, repulsed a heavy charge of Torbert's cavalry near Leetown, Va., Aug. 25. 1864. He fought at Winchester, Sept. 19, at Fisher's Hill. Sept. 22, and at Cedar Creek, Oct. 19, 1864, where he was directh' opposed to the 6th corps, and after being driven from his position, held the Union cavalry in check, being the last division to give way before the encouraged Federals. After that battle there was very little fighting in the Shenandoah. The 2d corps joined Lee at Richmond, and when Earl}' fell back to Staunton, Wliarton commanded tiie only division of in- fantry. Later he commanded a division under Echols and was marching to join Lee, when the news of the hitter's surrender was received. He resumed his practice of civil engineering ; was a representative in the Virginia legislature, 1871- 75 and 1897-98, and subsequently engaged in farming.

WHARTON, John Austin, soldier, was born in Texas. Sept. 3, 1831 ; sonof William H. Wharton, prominent in the Texas revolution, for whom Wiiarton county was so named. He attended