the office of president. This is prefixed to the first vol. of the society's memoirs. In this work he published several other productions, which manifest no common taste and talents in astronomical inquiries. The following are the titles of them; observations upon an hypothesis for solving the phenomena of light, with incidental observations tending to shew the heterogeneousness of light, and of the electric fluid, by their union with each other; observations on light and the waste of matter in the sun and fixed stars occasioned by the constant efflux of light from them; observations tending to prove by phenomena and scripture the existence of an orb, which surrounds the whole material system, and which may be necessary to preserve it from the ruin, to which, without such a counterbalance, it seems liable by that universal principle in matter, gravitation. He supposes, that the blue expanse of the sky is a real concave body encompassing all visible nature; that the milky way and the lucid spots in the heavens are gaps in this orb, through which the light of exterior orbs reaches us; and that thus an intimation may be given of orbs on orbs and systems on systems innumerable and inconceivably grand.Thacher's fun. serm.; Lowell's eulogy; Massa. mag. 111. 5–8, 304,305, 372; Univer. . asyl., 1. 73–76; Miller, 11; Minot's hist. insur.; Marshall, v. 121; Amer. Qu. Rev. 11. 505; Maine hist. col. 184 ; Eliot. May 4, 1780, at a time when our country | my of arts and sciences in Boston Novemwas in the deepest distress, was formed ber 8, 1780, when he was inducted into under his influence, and was an object of his constant attention. He was chosen its first president, and he continued in that office till his death. He was regarded by its members as the pride and ornament of their institution. To this body he bequeathed one hundred pounds and his valuable library, consisting of upwards of twelve hundred volumes upon every branch of science. He was also one of the founders and the president of the Massachusetts bank, and of the humane society of Massachusetts. The literary character of gov. Bowdoin gained him those honors, which are usually conferred on men distinguished for their literary attainments. He was constituted doctor of laws by the university of Edingburgh, and was elected a member of the royal societies of London and Dublin. He was deeply convinced of the truth and excellence of christianity, and it had a constant effect upon his life. He was for more than thirty years an exemplary member of the church in Brattle street, to the poor of which congregation he bequeathed a hundred pounds. His charities were abundant. He respected the injunctions of the gospel of Jesus Christ, which he professed. He knew the pleasures and advantages of family devotion, and he conscientiously observed the christian sabbath, presenting himself habitually in the holy temple, that he might be instructed in religious duty, and might unite with the worshippers of God. In his dying addresses to his family and servants BOWDOIN, James, minister of the he recommended the christian religion United States to Spain, was the son of to them as of transcendent importance, the preceding and was born Sept. 22, and assured them, that it was the only 1752. After he graduated at Harvard colfoundation of peace and happiness in lege in 1771 he proceeded to England, life and death. As the hour of his depar- where he prosecuted the study of the law ture approached, he expressed his satis- nearly a year at the University of Oxford. faction in the thought of going to the After revisiting his native country he saifull enjoyment of God and his Redeemer. led again for Europe, and travelled in Gov. Bowdoin was the author of a po- Italy, Holland, and England. On hearetic "Paraphrase of the Economy of Hu- ing of the battle of Lexington he returned man Life," dated March 28, 1759. He home. The anxieties of his father prealso published a philosophical discourse, vented him from engaging in military publicly addressed to the American acade-service, to which he was inclined. Be fore the close of the war he married the daughter of Mr. William Bowdoin, the half brother of his father. Devoting much of his time to literary pursuits at his residence in Dorchester, he yet sustained successively the public offices of representative, senator, and counsellor. painful attacks of disease he died without children October 11, 1911, in the 60th year of his age. His widow married the late gen. Henry Dearborn. At her decease, she left a sum of money and a number of valuable family portraits to the college. The name of James Bowdoin is now borne by one of the heirs of his estate,-the son of his niece, who married Thomas L. Winthrop, the lieutenant governor of Massachusetts.-Jenks' eulogy. For Soon after the incorporation of the college, which in honor of his father, who was governor at the time, received the name of Bowdoin college, he made to it a donation of one thousand acres of land and more than eleven hundred pounds. BOWEN, Jabez, LL.D., Lieut, gov. About this time he was chosen a fellow, of Rhode Island, was born in Providence, or elected into the corporation of Harv-graduated at Yale college in 1757, and ard college, and retained the office seven died May 7, 1815, aged 75 years. years. Having received a commission 30 years he was the chancellor of the from Mr. Jefferson, the president of the college at Providence as the successor of United States, as minister plenipotentiary gov. Hopkins. During the revolutionato the court of Madrid, he sailed May 10, ry war he was devoted to the cause of 1805 and was abroad until April 18, 1808. his country, and was a member of the The objects of his mission, which related board of war, judge of the supreme court, to the settlement of the limits of Louisia- and lieut, governor. Of the national na, the purchase of Florida, and the pro- convention at Annapolis and of the state euring of compensation for repeated spo- convention to consider the constitution he liations of American commerce, were not was a member. During the administraaccomplished. During his absence he tion of Washington he was commissioner spent two years in Paris, where he pur- of loans for Rhode Island. Of the Bible chased many books, a collection of well society of R. I. he was the president. In arranged minerals, and fine models of the maturity of his years he became a crystallography, which he afterwards member of the first congregational church. presented to Bowdoin College. After his His great capacity for public business, return much of his time was spent upon joined to his unquestioned integrity, his family estate, the valuable island of gave him an elevated character and great Naushaun, near Martha's Vineyard. At influence in society.-A gentleman of the this time his translation of Daubenton's same name was a judge of the superi'Advice to Shepherds' was published for or court in Georgia: having in an elegant the benefit of the owners of sheep. He charge, delivered at Savannah, made some had previously published, anonymously, imprudent remarks concerning the color'Opinions respecting the commercial inter-ed population, the grand jury presented course between the United States & Great his charge, in consequence of which he Britain.' In July 1811 he executed a deed sent them all to prison. He was removed to Bowdoin college of six thousand acres from office; and, it is said, died insane at in the town of Lisbon. By his last will Philadelphia. he bequeathed to the college several articles of philosophical apparatus, a costly collection of seventy fine paintings, and the reversion of Naushaun island on the failure of issue male of the present devisees,-a contingency, now very improbable. BOWEN, Pardon, M. D., a distinguished physician, was born in Providence, R. I., March 22, 1757.-Richard Bowen is said to have been his ancestor; perhaps it was Griffith Bowen, who lived in Boston in 1689. His father was Dr. Ephraim Bowen, an eminent phy After a long period of infirmity and of sician of Providence, who died Oct. 21, BOWIE, Robert, general, governor of 1812, aged 96 years.-After graduating in 1703 he studied medicine with Dr. at the college of Rhode Island in 1775, Pardon Bowen; also at Edinburgh and he studied with his brother, Dr. William Paris, and at London as the private puBowen; and embarked as surgeon in a pil of sir Astley Cooper. He did not reprivateer in 1779. Though captured turn till Aug. 1811. Experiments to disand imprisoned 7 months at Halifax, he cover the composition of the bleaching was not deterred from engaging repeat- liquor, just brought into use in England, edly in similar enterprises, resulting inlaid the foundation of the disease, which new imprisonments. In 1782 he reached terminated his life April 23, 1815, aged home and was content to remain on 29. He married a daughter of col. Olshore. In 1783 he repaired to Philadel-ney. Though his labors on chlorine imphia for his improvement in his profes-paired his property and destroyed his life, sion at the medical school. After his re- they led to the creation of the valuable turn it was but gradually that he obtained bleaching establishments of Rhode Island. practice. At length his success was ample;-Thacher's med. biog. his eminence in medicine and surgery were undisputed. During the prevalence Maryland, succeeded John F. Mercer as of the yellow fever he shrunk not from the peril : more than once was he attacked by that disease. For much of his success he was indebted to his study of idiosyncrasy or of the peculiarities, moral, intellectual, and physical, of his patients. In 1820 he experienced an attack of the palsy, which terminated his professional labors, in consequence of which he retired to the residence of his son in law, Franklin Greene, at Potowomut, (Warwick), where he passed years of suffering, some- BOWLES, William A., an Indian times amounting to agony. In the life-agent, was born in Frederic county, the giving energy of the doctrines, precepts, son of a school master in Maryland, who and promises of the Bible he found the was an Englishman and brother of Caronly adequate support and solace.-ington B., keeper of the famous printHe died Oct. 25, 1826 aged 69. His shop, Ludgate hill, London. At the age wife who survived him, was the daughter of 13 Bowles privately left his parents & of Henry Ward,secretary of Rhode Island. joined the British army at Philadelphia. Dr.Bowen sustained an excellent char- Afterwards he entered the service of the acter; he was modest, upright, affable; Creek Indians and married an Indian free from covetousness and ambition; woman. Ferocious like the savages, he beneficent; and in his last days an example of christian holiness. He published an elaborate account of the yellow fever of Providence in 1805 in Hosack's medical register, vol iv.—Thacher's med. biog. governor in 1803, and was succeeded by Robert Wright in 1805. He was again governor in 1811, but the next year was succeeded by Levin Winder. He died at Nottingham in Jan. 1818, aged 64. He was an officer of the revolution, and presents one of the multitude of instances in America of the success of patriotism, integrity, and benevolence, unassisted by the advantages of wealth or of a learned education. instigated them to many of their excesses. The British rewarded him for his exertions. After the peace he went to England. On his return his influence with the Indians was so disastrous, that the Spaniards offered six thousand dollars for his BOWEN, William C., M. D., pro-apprehension. He was entrapped in Feb. fessor of chemistry in Brown university, 1792 and sent a prisoner to Madrid & received this appointment in 1812. He thence to Manilla in 1795. Having leave was the only son of Dr. William Bowen, who is still an eminent practitioner at the age of 80 years, and was born June 2, 1785. After graduating at Union college to go to Europe,he repaired to the Creeks and commenced his depredations anew; but being again betrayed in 1804 into the hands of the Spaniards,he was confined in the Moro castle, Havana, where he died son by its long,brown,silky hair.-Maine Dec. 23, 1805. Such is the miserable end hist. col. 1. 416 ; Am. rememb, 1780,162. of most of the unprincipled adventurers, BOYD, William, minister of Lamingof whom there is any account. A memoir ton in New Jersey, was descended from of him was published in London, 1791, in Scotish ancestors, who emigrated to Pennwhich he is called ambassador from the sylvania. He was born in Franklin coununited nations of Creeks and Cherokees. ty, 1758. At the age of 15 he lost his -Jennison. father, but about the same time it pleased BOYD, Thomas, a soldier, who per- the Father of mercies to turn him from ished by the hands of the Indians, was a darkness to light. His collegial educaprivate soldier belonging to capt. Matthew tion was completed at Princeton in 1778 Smith's Pennsylvania rifle company in under the presidency of Dr. WitherArnold's expedition through the wilder- spoon. After pursuing the study of theness of Maine to Quebec in 1775. He ology with Dr. Allison of Baltimore, he was the largest and strongest man in the commenced preaching the gospel. His company. He was taken prisoner in the popularity and talents would have proassault Dec. 31.-After being exchanged cured him a conspicuous situation; but he he was a lieutenant in the first Pennsylva- was destitute of ambition. It was his nia regiment and accompanied gen. Sul- supreme desire to live a life of piety, and livan in his expedition against the Indians to preach in the apostolic manner; and he in the Seneca country, New York, in was apprehensive, that in a city he should Aug. and Sept. 1779. When the army be infected by the corruption of those ahad marched beyond Canandaigua and round him. He therefore preferred a was near the Genesee town on the Gen- retired situation, and accepted the call of esee river, Boyd was sent out in the eve- Lamington. Here he continued till his ning of Sept. 12 to reconnoitre the town death, May 15, 1808. Being asked, if he 6 miles distant. He took 26 men, with was willing to leave the world, he rean Oneida chief, named Han-Jost. The plied, that he had been searching into the guides mistook the road, and led him to a evidence of his being in a state of grace, castle 6 miles higher up the river, than and that he was satisfied, that he had Genesee. Here a few Indians were dis-been renewed by the spirit of God. covered, of whom two were killed and lively faith in the Redeemer gave him scalped. On his return Boyd was inter- hope and triumph. He was a man of uncepted by several hundred Indians and feigned humility, amiable in the various Rangers under Butler. His flanking par- relations of life, and remarkable for pruties escaped; but he and 14 men with dence and moderation in all his deportthe Oneida chief were encircled. Resor- ment. He was a preacher of peculiar ting to a small grove of trees, surrounded excellence. Deeply penetrated himself with a cleared space, he fought desperate- with a sense of the total depravity of the ly till all his men but one were killed and human heart and of the inability of man he himself was shot through the body. to perform any thing acceptable to God The next day his body and that of his without the influence of the Holy Spirit, companion, Michael Parker, were found he endeavored to impress these truths on at Genesee, barbarously mutilated. The others. He dwelt upon the necessity of Indians had cruelly whipped him; stab- a divine atonement, and of faith in the bed him with spears; pulled out his nails; Redeemer in order to justification; upon plucked out an eye; and cut out his the riches of divine grace and the encourtongue. His head was cut off. Simp-agements of the gospel to the humble and son, afterwards general, his companion at contrite; upon the dangers of self decepQuebec, decently buried him. His tion and the false refuges of the wicked. scalp, hooped and painted, found in one He was remarkable for a natural facility of the wigwams, was recognised by Simp- and perspicuity of expression. For a A few years he wrote his sermons and com- no eligible offer of employment, he sold mitted them to memory; but for the re- out his elephants, guns, arms, and equipmainder of his life he depended, after ments to col. Felose, a Neopolitan partihaving digested his subject, upon the vi- zan, who acquired the implements, elegor of his powers. A penetrating eye, nat- phantine and human, for carrying on the ural gestures, a sweet and commanding same trade of hired ruffianship.—In 1808 voice, and an irreproachable character he was in Paris. After the war he receigave weight & authority to his words. But ved the appointment of naval officer for his labors, like those of many other good the port of Boston. He died Oct.4, 1830, men, were attended with only a gradual aged 62. He published documents and increase of the church, committed to his facts relative to military events during the late war, 1816.-Bost. week. messeng. vIII. 774. care. He was formed no less for society, than for the pulpit, having a friendly disposition, being animated in conversation, accommodating himself to the tempers of others, and mingling condescension with dignity.-Evang. intellig. May, 1808. an He BOYLSTON, Zabdiel, F. R. S., eminent physician, who first introduced the inoculation of the small pox in America, was born of respectable parents at Brookline, Mass., in 1680. His father BOYD, John P., brigadier general in was not Dr. Thomas B., as Thacher the army of the United States, comman- represents, but Peter B., the son of Dr. ded the detachment of 1500 men of Wil- Thomas B., who received his medical liamson's army, which fought the battle degree at Oxford and came to this counof Williamsburg, Upper Canada, with try and settled in Brookline in 1635.— 1800 of the enemy, the garrisons of After a good private education, he stuKingston and Prescott, Nov. 11, 1813. died physic under the care of Dr. John In this severe action brigadier general Cutler, an eminent physician and surgeon Covington was killed; the American loss of Boston, and in a few years arrived at was 339; the British 181. This British great distinction in his profession, and force being in the rear, and the co-opera- accumulated a handsome fortune. tion of Hampton having failed, the pro-was remarkable for his skill, his humanity, posed descent to Montreal was abandoned, and his close attention to his patients. In and the American army recrossed the St. the year 1721 the small pox prevailed in Lawrence and went into winter quarters Boston, and being fatal, like the plague, at French Mills. Gen. Boyd was a good it carried with it the utmost terror. officer: his early military career was in This calamity had not visited the town India. But this service was of a pecu- since the year 1702, in which year as well liar kind. He organized three battalions, as in the year 1692 it had proved destruceach of about 500 men, and had also a tive to the lives of many, though it was small irregular force. He had six can- much less mortal, than when it appeared non; three or four elephants; and as in the year 1678. On its reappearance, many English officers. He hired his Dr. Cotton Mather, who had read in a men and his officers at a certain number volume of the philosophical transactions, of rupees a month. This corps, as re- put into his hands by Dr. Douglass, two garded arms and equipments, was his communications from the east, the one sole property; and in the command of it he entered the service of any of the Indian princes, who would give him the best pay. Once he was in the pay of Holkar; afterwards in the Peshwas service; then, quitting the Mahratta territory, he was hired for the service of Nizam Ally Khan. Then he marched to Poona, and having from Timoni at Constantinople and the other from Pylarini, the Venetian consul at Smyrna, giving an account of the practice of inoculation for the small pox, conceived the idea of introducing this practice in Boston. He accordingly, June 6, addressed a letter to the physicians of Boston, enclosing an abridgment of those |