History of Kingston, (Washington County) Rhode Island United States of America

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Biographies:

Stephen Champlin, naval officer, was born in South Kingston, R.I., Nov. 17, 1789; son of Stephen and Elizabeth (Perry) Champlin. In 1794 his parents removed to Lebanon, Ky., where he received a common-school education. At the age of sixteen he went to sea and at twenty-two was captain of a merchantman. May 22, 1812, he was appointed a sailing-master in the navy and placed in command of a gunboat under Commodore Perry at Newport, and afterwards at Sacketts Harbor. He was in command of the Scorpion at the battle of Lake Erie, Sept. 10, 1813, the Scorpion firing the first shot on the American side. September 13, Champlin captured the Little Belt, and fired the last shot of the engagement. In 1814 he commanded the Tigress and participated in the blockade of Port Mackinac. On the 13th of September the Tigress and Scorpion were surprised and captured by the British, Champlin receiving a severe wound in the thigh, which crippled him for life. He was held as a prisoner at Mackinac for more than a month and was then paroled. He was promoted to a lieutenancy Dec. 9, 1814, and in 1815 was attached to Commodore Perry's flagship, the Java. From 1816 to 1818 he was in command of the Porcupine, and during 1816 was employed in surveying the Canadian line. He served on the receiving ship Fulton from 1824 to 1834, when he settled in Buffalo, N. Y. He was promoted captain, Aug. 4, 1850; was placed on the reserve list Sept. 13, 1855, and was raised to the rank of commodore on the reserve list, April 4, 1867. He died in Buffalo, N. Y., Feb. 20, 1870.

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

Thomas Robinson Hazard, author, was born in South Kingstown, R.I., Jan. 3, 1797; son of Rowland and Mary (Peace) Hazard and a descendant in the seventh generation of Thomas Hazard, one of the original settlers and proprietors of the Island of Aquidneck, who, with Nicholas Easton and Robert Jeffries, laid out the town of Newport, R.I., in 1639. He attended the Friends' boarding school at Westtown, Pa., 1809-13, and in 1813 engaged in the manufacture of cotton and woolen goods at Peace Dale, R.I., succeeding his father. In 1840 he retired from business and settled at his country seat "Vaucluse," near Newport. From youth he was interested in agriculture and sheep raising, keeping large flocks of sheep which he cared for himself, thus acquiring the soubriquet "Shepherd Tom." He was conspicuous reforming the management of the poor and insane in the state of Rhode Island, inaugurated the movement that resulted in the abolition of capital punishment in that state, and was a promoter of the movement in the United States for the relief of the Irish famine and a liberal contributor to the relief fund. He was made a life director and vice-president of the African colonization society in 1840. In October, 1838, he was married to Frances, daughter of Jonas and Esther (Robinson) Minturn of New York city. She died at "Vaucluse," April 10, 1854. In 1856 he became a convert to spiritualism. His published volumes include: Facts for the laboring Man (1840); Capital Punishment (1850); Report on the Poor and Insane (1850); Handbook of the National American Party (1856); Appeal to the People of Rhode Island (1857); Ordeal of Life (1870); and Recollections of Olden Times by Shepherd Tom (1879). He died in New York City, March 26, 1886.

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