Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 18.djvu/34

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SEWALL. 20 SEWARD. SEWALL, Sami'EL (16521730). A colonial jurist, born at Bishojjstokc, England. He emi- grated with his parent.s to Jlassachusetts in lUGl, and graduated at Harvard in 1071. He was a member of the K.xecutive Council of Massa- chusetts Bay from 1002 to 1725; was a probate judge from 1092 to 1718, and was Chief Justice of Massachusetts from 1718 to 1728. He pre- sided over some of the trials at the time of the famoiis witchcraft delusion, but later became convinced of the worthlessness of the testimony upon which the victims had been convicted, and in 1097 prepared a confession of his error, which was read, in his presence, before the congrega- tion of the Old Soutli Chui'ch. He was wide- ly known as a philanthropist, and in 1700 wrote a pamphlet against slavery, entitled The Helling of Joseph. He also wrote An Answer to Queries Mcsjierling America (1690), The Accomplish- ment of Prophecies (1713), A Memorial Relat- ing to the Kennebec Indians (1721), and A De- scription of the Sew Heaven (1727). His Diary (from 1764-1729) and his letter books, both pub- lished in the Collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society, are invaluable for the light they throw on the social history of early New England. SEWANEE (se-wn'ne) UNIVERSITY. See South, University of the. SEWARD, su'erd, Albert Charles (1863—). An English botanist, born in Lancaster and edu- cated at Saint .John's College, Cambridge. He studied paleobotany under Williamson at Man- chester and in Euro))ean museums, became uni- versity lecturer in botany at Cambridge in 1890, and in 1899 was appointed fellow and tutor of Emmanuel College. He wrote Fossil Plants as Tests of Climate (1892), The Wealden Flora (vols. i. and ii. in the British Museum Cata- logues, 1894-95), Fossil Plants for students of Geology and Botany (1898 et seq.), and Jurassic Flora (in British Museum Catalogue, 1900 et scq. ) . SEWARD, Anna (1747-1809). An English author, a daughter of Thomas Seward, who be- came Canon of Lichfield. She was the author of a collection of sonnets ( 1799) and other verses, and of elegies on Major Andre and Captain Cook, for which she was stj-led the "Swan of Lichfield." She also wrote a poetical novel called Louisa (1782), and a Memoir of Dr. Daririn (1804), in which she laid claim to the exordium of The Bo- tanic Garden. Miss Seward was a woman of great beauty. Her Poetical Works and Corre- spondence (3 vols., 1810) was published under the supervision of Scott, and Constable brought out her whole literary corresjjondence (6 vols., 1811). SEWARD, Clarence Armstrong (1828-97). An American soldier and lawyer, born in Xew York City. He graduated at Hobart College in 1848, studied law, and practiced it, after 1854, in New York City. From 1856 to 1860 he was Judge Advocate General of New York State. In 1860 he went to Virginia to protest against its secession from the L'nion. He entered the ( ivil War as colonel of the 19th New York Vol- unteers. In 1865, after the assault upon Secre- tary Seward and his son, Frederick William, he was called to Washington to act as Assistant Secretary of State. At the time of his death he was president of the American Express Company. SEWARD,. Frederick Willlm (1830—). An American lawyer and diplomat, the son of William H. Seward. He was born in Auburn, N. Y., graduated at Union College in 1849, was admitted to the bar in 1851, and in the same year became assistant editor and part owner of the Albany Erening Journal, then controlled by Tliurlow Weed. From 1861 until 1869 lie was Assistant Secretary of State under his father. On April 14, 1865, he was severely wounded while defending liis father against an assassin. In 1867, with Admiral David D. Porter, he was sent to the West Indies, where the two negotiated a treaty with Santo Domingo, and he also took a prominent part in the negotiations for the pur- cliase of Alaska. In 1875 he was a member of the New York State Legislature, and from 1877 to 1881, during the Presidency of Rutherford B. Hayes, was again Assistant Secretary of State. In addition to numerous articles in magazines and reviews, he juililished The Life and Letters of M'illiam Henry Heaard (1891). SEWARD, George Frederick (1840—). An American diplomat, born in Florida, N. Y., son of W. H. Seward. He was educated at Seward Institute and Union College. In 1861 he was appointed United States consul at Shang- hai, and cleared the Yang-tse-Kiang of pirates claiming American citizenship. From 1863 to 1876 he was Consul-General, introducing many reforms into the conduct of the office and sug- gesting others regarding the American judicial establishment in Clijna. He was appointed Min- ister to China in 1876. As he opposed the re- striction of Chinese immigration, he was re- called in 1880, and engaged in liusiness in New York City. He became president of the Fidelity and Casualty Company in 1893. He published Cliinese Iminictration in Its Social and Economic Aspect (1881). SEWARD, William Henry (1801-72). An eminent American statesman, born in Florida, Orange County, N. Y., May 16, 1801. He attend- ed an academy at Goshen, N. Y., graduated at Union College in 1820. studied law in New York City and also at Goshen, was admitted to the bar at Utica in 1822, and in 1823 settled in Au- burn for the practice of his profession. A short time afterwards he married the daughter of his partner. Judge Elijah Miller. In 1830 he was elected to the State Senate by the Anti-Ma- sonic Party, to whose first national conven- tion he had been sent as a delegate. As a Sena- tor he won distinction by the industry and ability with which he advocated internal improvements, support of the common schools, and political re- forms of various kinds. As the agent of the Hol- land Land Company, he laid the foundation of a comfortable fortune. In 1838 he was elected Gov- ernor of New York as a Whig. His administra- tion was signalized by notable improvements of the common school system, reform of prison dis- cipline, judicial reforms, and internal improve- ments, while he gave much attention also to the extension of the franchise, the reform of the lianking laws, the geological survey of the State, and the improvement of the militia. His term was marked by the anti-rent troubles (see Anti- Rextism) and the controversy over the McLeod affair. (See Caroline, The.) In 1840 he was