History of Washington, District of Columbia United States of America

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Biographies:

Edmund R. Calhoun, naval officer, was born in Chambersburg, Pa., May 6, 1821. He entered the navy as midshipman, April 1, 1839, receiving his appointment from Missouri. He served in the Brazil and Mediterranean squadrons until 1845, when he was assigned to the naval school at Philadelphia. In July, 1845, he was appointed passed midshipman and was made master Jan. 6, 1853, resigning June 27 of that year. He re-entered the navy as acting lieutenant Sept. 24, 1861; was commissioned commander Nov. 17, 1862; captain, March 2, 1869; commodore, April 26, 1876, and rear admiral, Dec. 3. 1882, when he was retired from active service. He served in the Mexican war in the first attack on Alvarado, under Conner, and in the assault on Tabasco, under Perry. In 1861-62 he commanded the steamer Hunchback of the North Atlantic blockading squadron, and took part in the battle of Roanoke Island, the capture of Newbern and the engagements below Franklin in the Blackwater River in October, 1862. In 1863 he commanded the steamer Ladona, and afterwards the monitor Weehawken, of the South Atlantic squadron, in her various engagements with Forts Sumter, Wagner and Beauregard in 1863. In 1864-65 he commanded the monitor Saugus of the North Atlantic squadron, and engaged Howlett's battery on the James River June 21, and again Dec. 5, 1864, also taking part in the bombardment of Fort Fisher. From the close of the war until 1876 he was in command of the Asiatic and South Pacific stations, and on April 17, 1877, he took command of the navy yard at Mare Island, California, where he remained until Jan. 15, 1881. He was then on special duty until his retirement in December. 1882. He died in Washington, D.C., Feb. 17, 1897.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Richard H. Clarke, historian, was born in Washington, D. C. , July 3, 1827; son of Walter and Rachel (Boone) Clarke; and grandson of Lieut. William and Mary (Simms) Clarke and of Francis and Mary (Sanbury) Boone. His first American ancestor, Robert Clarke, one of the founders of Maryland, came to America with Gov. Leonard Calvert, was a member of the legislature in 1649, and acknowledging himself a Roman Catholic, forfeited his large landed estate upon the accession of William and Mary. Lieut. William Clarke was an officer in the Revolutionary war. Richard H. was graduated at Georgetown university in 1846 and practised law in Washington until 1864, when he removed to New York city, and attained a high standing at the bar. He was associated with Charles O'Connor in the Jumel will case, the Forrest divorce case and the case of the United States against Jefferson Davis; and became counsel of the Emigrant industrial savings bank, and one of the examining counsel of the Lawyer's title insurance company. He was prominent as a layman in advancing the interests of the Roman Catholic church, was made a trustee of the New York Catholic protectory, and he served for several years as its president. He introduced the Charitable society of St. Vincent de Paul in Washington and in New York city, and was elected its vice-president. He was one of the founders of the Catholic club and an active promoter of various literary and charitable associations connected with the church. In 1873, Georgetown university conferred upon him the degree of LL. D., as did St. John's college, Fordham, in 1891. He was made president of the alumni association of Georgetown university and the University of Notre Dame conferred upon him a golden cross, appropriately inscribed, for his services in the Catholic church and in literature. His published works include The Lives of the Deceased Bishops of the Catholic Church in the United States (1872-88); The Illustrated History of the Catholic Church in the United States (1889); Old and New Lights on Columbus (1893); and many contributions on historical and religious subjects to periodical literature.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Louis Duncan, educator, was born in Washington, D.C., March 25, 1862. He was graduated from the United States naval academy in 1880, cruised in the South Pacific station, 1880-82, visiting the ports of South America, Pacific Islands, Japan, Alaska, Mexico, Chili and Peru. He cruised on the North Atlantic station in 1882, and was on special duty at the Johns Hopkins university, 1883. In the summer of 1883 he was on duty at the United States torpedo school at Newport, R.I., and during 1883-84 he assisted at Johns Hopkins university in the work of determining for the United States government the unit of electrical resistance. During the summer of 1881 he was stationed at the International electric exhibition at Philadelphia, Pa., where he was a member and afterward chairman of the board of judges. He was ordered to sea in 1885 on the U.S. steamship Brooklyn which cruised on the North Atlantic station. He resigned from the navy in 1886 and was appointed associate professor of electricity at Johns Hopkins university. He was elected an honorary member of the Franklin institute; vice-president of the American institute of electrical engineers; fellow of the American pbilosophical society; member of the Soci?t? Math?matique de France; and other European and American associations. He received the degree of Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins in 1885. He contributed numerous papers to electrical periodicals and patented several devices for secondary batteries and electrical machines.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Alexnder Burton Hagner, jurist, was born in Washington, D.C., July 13, 1826; son of Peter and Frances (Randall) Hagner, and a brother of Peter Valentine Hagner. He was graduated from the College of New Jersey in 1845; was admitted to the bar at Annapolis, and began practice there in 1848. He was chairman of the committee on ways and means in the Maryland legislature of 1854, to which he was elected as a Whig; was Independent Union candidate for representative in congress in 1858, and in 1874 was endorsed by the Republican convention in a district strongly Democratic, and in both instances unsuccessful. In 1850 he was judge advocate of a naval court of inquiry to investigate the capture of Alvarado. In 1858 he married Louisa, youngest daughter of Randolph Harrison of Elk Hill, Goochland county, Va. In 1876 he served as judge advocate of a naval general court-martial convened in San Francisco for the trial of Pay-Inspector Spalding. In 1864 he was appointed special judge to try a large number of causes in Prince George's county, Maryland, in which the circuit judge was disqualified to act, and was engaged during several years in that capacity. In January, 1879, he was commissioned associate justice of the supreme court of the District of Columbia, and still had that office in 1900.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor