of base, leading the rear-guard in the movement from Turkey creek to Harrison's landing. He was promoted major-general of volunteers, 4 July, 1862, and till September was in Yorktown, where he put the works in condition for defence. On 22 Sept., 1862, he was assigned to the command of all the National troops in Virginia south of James river, where he rendered important service by his brilliant defence of Suffolk against a superior force under Longstreet, whose position on Hill's point he stormed and captured on 4 May, 1863, thus virtually ending the siege. After an absence of several months, which was necessitated by injuries that he had received at Suffolk, he held command in North Carolina till April, 1864, and, after another leave of absence, on the Canada frontier till the close of the war. He was mustered out of service, 24 Aug., 1865, and in 1866 organized at Syracuse the New York state life insurance company, of which he was president till his death. PECK, John Mason, clergyman, b. in Litchfield, Conn., 31 Oct., 1789; d. in Rock Spring, St. Clair co., Ill., 15 March, 1858. He was the son of a farmer in humble circumstances, and, after being educated at the common schools, removed in 1811 to Greene county, N. Y., where he united with the Baptist church. The same year he was licensed to preach, and began his pastoral work at Catskill, while prosecuting his studies and supporting himself by teaching. He was ordained in Catskill, 9 June, 1813, and the following year became pastor of the church at Amenia, N. Y. He was then sent to the west by the Baptist general convention as a missionary, and reached St. Louis at the end of 1817. During the next nine years he was engaged as an itinerant preacher and a teacher, travelling in the former capacity through Missouri and Illinois, and finally fixing his residence at Rock Spring, in the latter state. In 1826 he raised money and aided in organizing the Rock Spring seminary for educating common-school teachers and ministers. In April, 1829, he began the publication of "The Pioneer," the first organ of the Baptist church in the western states. In 1831 he spent three months in planning with Rev. Jonathan Going the American Baptist home missionary society, and the same year he issued A Guide for Emigrants" (Boston), a small but useful publication. He soon afterward began a monthly periodical entitled "The Illinois Sunday-School Banner." In 1834 appeared his "Gazetteer of Illinois" (Jacksonville, 1834; Philadelphia, 1837). In 1835 Shurtleff college was founded at Upper Alton, Ill., to take the place of his Rock Spring seminary. To endow this institution Dr. Peck travelled nearly 6,000 miles, and collected $20,000. In watching over and helping the new enterprise, and in aiding in the establishment of a theological institution at Covington, Ky., he was occupied until 1843, which year, with the two following, he spent in Philadelphia as correspond ing secretary and financial agent of the American Baptist publication society. Returning to the west, he was pastor of several important churches in Missouri, Illinois, and Kentucky. In 1852 he received the degree of D. D. from Harvard. Dr. Peck was a master spirit among the pioneers. Perhaps no man of the class," says an intimate friend, “did more than he to guide the thoughts, mould the manners, and form the institutions of the west. He was an embodiment of western character, plain, frank, self-reliant, fearless, indomitable." He was an important contributor to nearly all the historical societies of the northwestern states and territories, and published, besides the works already mentioned, New Guide for Emi grants to the West" (Boston, 1836) and "Father Clark, or the Pioneer Preacher" (New York, 1855), He is also the author of a "Life of Daniel Boone" in Sparks's "American Biography," and edited the 2d edition of "Annals of the West" (Cincinnati). His large and valuable collection of newspapers and pamphlets was destroyed by fire a few years before his death, but he left his large collection of manuscripts to the Rev. Rufus Babcock, who published "Forty Years of Pioneer Life: Memoir of John Mason Peck, edited from his Journals and Correspondence" (Philadelphia, 1864). PECK, William Dandridge, naturalist, b. in Boston, Mass., 8 May, 1763; d. in Cambridge, Mass., 3 Oct., 1822. His father, John, attained reputation as a ship-builder during the Revolution. The son, after graduation at Harvard in 1782, spent some time in a counting-house in Boston, and for twenty years devoted himself to the study of natural history. He was an ingenious mechanic, and made a microscope and many other delicate instruments. After living a life of seclusion and study, he was made professor of his specialty in Harvard, which chair he held from 1805 till 1822. He was sent to visit the scientific institutions of Europe, being absent three years, and during this time he collected many books and specimens. He published a catalogue of "American and Foreign Plants" (1818) and several articles in the collections of the Massachusetts historical society, which include "The Description of the Atherine," "History of the Slug-Worm," and "Method of taking Impressions of Vegetable Leaves by Means of Smoke.” He also published an account of a sea-serpent in the " Memoirs of the American Academy." PECK, William Guy, mathematician, b. in Litchfield, Conn., 16 Oct., 1820. He was graduated at the U. S. military academy in 1844 at the head of his class, was assigned to the topographical engineers, served in the third expedition of John C. Frémont in 1845, and was with the Army of the West under Gen. Stephen W. Kearny during the Mexican war. He was assistant professor of natural philosophy at West Point in 1846, and of mathematics from 1847 till 1855, when he resigned from the army. After declining a chair in Kenyon college, Ohio, he was professor of physics and civil engineering in the University of Michigan till 1857. In that year he became adjunct professor of mathematics in Columbia, and since 1861 he has held the chair of mathematics, mechanics, and astronomy there, also teaching in the School of mines. He received the degree of Ph. D. from Columbia in 1877 and that of LL. D. from Trinity in 1863. In 1868 he was a member of the board of visitors to the U. S. military academy. He assisted his father-in-law, Prof. Charles Davies, in compiling his " Dictionary and Cyclopædia of Mathematical Science" (New York, 1855), and is the author of a full set of school and college text-books on mathematics, including a "Calculus" and an "Analytical Geometry"; an edition of Ganot's "Natural Philosophy" (New York, 1860; last revised ed., 1881); Elementary Mechanics" (1859); and "Popular Astronomy" (1883). PECK, William Henry, author, b. in Augusta, Ga., 30 Dec., 1830. His ancestor, Paul, emigrated to this country from Essex, England, in 1635, and settled in Hartford, Conn. After studying in Western military institute, Georgetown, Ky., he was graduated at Harvard in 1853. From 1854 till 1856 he was principal of a public school in New Orleans, and from 1856 till 1858 professor of belles-lettres, history, and elocution in the University of Louisiana. He then went to New York, but PECKHAM returned to Georgia and established there a literary quarto, entitled "The Georgia Weekly," which was a failure. In 1860 he became president of the Masonic female college in Greenville, Ga., where he revived the Weekly." In 1864-5 he was professor of languages in Le Vert female college, Ga., removing his newspaper there. He has contributed many tales and romances to periodicals, and is the author of "The McDonalds, or the Ashes of a Southern Home" (New York, 1867) and "The Confederate Flag on the Ocean" (1867). PECKHAM, Rufus Wheeler, jurist, b. in Rensselaerville, Albany co., N. Y., 20 Dec., 1809; d. at sea, 22 Nov., 1873. He studied law, was admitted to the bar, and in 1830 settled in Albany, where he attained note at the bar. In 1838 he was appointed district attorney of Albany county, and he served in congress, having been chosen as a Democrat, from 5 Dec., 1853, till 3 March, 1855, after which he resumed his law practice in partnership with Judge Lyman Tremain. In 1859 he was elected justice of the supreme court, and after serving eight years he was re-elected. In 1870 he was chosen to the court of appeals, of which he was a member at the time of his death. Owing to impaired health, he sought the climate of southern France, and was lost at sea in the "Ville de Havre."-His son, Wheeler Hazard, lawyer, b. in Albany, N. Y., 1 Jan., 1833, was educated at Albany academy, and at Union, which he left owing to impaired health. He was appointed district attorney of New York in 1884, which office he resigned in the same year. For many years he has practised law in New York city. Petroleum" for the "Encyclopædia Britannica," and he has published an "Elementary Treatise on Chemistry" (Louisville, 1876). PEDDER, James, agriculturist, b. in Newport, Isle of Wight, England, 29 July, 1775; d. in Roxbury, Mass., 30 Aug., 1859. He came to this country about 1832 and engaged in the manufacture of sugar in Philadelphia. For seven years he conducted the " Farmers' Cabinet," an agricultural journal of great merit, and from 1844 until his death he edited the Boston Cultivator." Several editions of his famous conversations, entitled “Frank," have been published, and "The Yellow Shoestrings" went through seventeen editions in London and several in this country. He published a "Report made to the Beet-Sugar Society of Philadelphia on the Culture in France of the Beet Root" (Philadelphia, 1836), and also wrote "The Farmer's Land Measure" (New York, 1854). PEDLEY, Charles, clergyman, b. in Hanley, Staffordshire, England, 6 Aug., 1821; d. in Coldsprings, Canada, 17 Feb., 1872. He was educated at Rotherdam, Yorkshire, and, after holding Congregational pastorates in Durham, came to Canada, where he held charges in Coburg and Coldsprings. He wrote a "History of Newfoundland" from the earliest times to 1860 (London, 1863). PEDRARIAS-DÁVILA (pay-drah'-re-as-dah'vee-lah), first Spanish governor of South America, b. in Segovia about 1460; d. in Spain about 1530. His real name was Pedro Arias de Avila, but the contracted form is commonly used. He served with distinction during the Moorish war, and, on account of his ability in tournaments, was named PECKHAM, Stephen Farnum, chemist, b."the jouster." When Enciso (q. v.) appeared in near Providence, R. 1., 26 March, 1839. After a Spain in 1512 to complain that Balboa (q. v.) had special course in the chemical laboratory of Brown taken from him the government of Castilla de he was two years in a pharmaceutical laboratory Oro, King Ferdinand appointed Pedrarias governor in Providence, after which he completed his studies of the colony. Many noblemen and adventurers in 1861 by a further course in chemistry at Brown. joined his expedition, which consisted of nearly Subsequently, in association with Nathaniel P. 2,000 men, and sailed in twenty-two vessels from Hill (q. v.) and others, he began the manufacture Seville, arriving in May, 1514, in Santa Maria la of illuminating oils from petroleum. The works Antigua. After the discovery of the Pacific ocean were planned and successfully constructed by him, by Balboa, Pedrarias, for the purpose of transbut their operation was unremunerative, and he ferring the seat of government nearer to the became in 1862 hospital steward of the 7th Rhode isthmus, founded and fortified in 1516 the town of Island regiment. He continued in the military Acla, near the site called, by Nieuesa, Nombre de service until near the close of the civil war, having Dios. When the despatches that appointed Balboa at that time charge of the chemical department of adelantado and governor of the South sea arrived, the U. S. army laboratory in Philadelphia. His next Pedrarias, envious of his glory, imprisoned the engagement was as expert for the California pe- latter on a charge of treason, and executed him in troleum company, for which corporation he spent Acla in 1517. This outrage caused great indignaa year in southern California studying the occur- tion at court, and the young king Charles sent in rence of petroleum in that region. He subsequently 1518 Lope de Sosa to relieve Pedrarias, and Judge prepared for the geological survey of that state Alarcon to try him. But Sosa died on the passage, several reports on similar subjects, including a and Alarcon was prevailed upon to postpone the technological examination of Californian bitumen, trial, so that Pedrarias remained as governor. In which he made on his return to the east in 1867. 1518 he founded Panama, and in the next year he In that year he also began to teach chemistry in transferred the seat of government to that city. Brown, and he afterward held chairs on that subject He despatched in 1519 an expedition under Gaspar successively in Washington and Jefferson college, de Espinosa (q. v.) from Panama to the northward, the state agricultural college, Orono, Me., Buchtel which discovered the Gulf of Nicoya, and in 1522 college, Akron, Ohio, and in the University of another, under Pascual de Andagoya (q. v.), to the Minnesota, where he was also chemist to the geo- southward, which discovered the river San Juan logical survey of that state. In 1880 he returned and brought the first news about Peru. After the to Providence, and he has since been engaged in discovery of Nicaragua by Gil Gonzalez Davila in various chemical industries. Prof. Peckham has 1522, and while the latter had gone to Hispaniola contributed many articles to current scientific lite- to seek resources for founding colonies, Pedrarias, rature, both in the United States and abroad, wishing to anticipate him, sent, toward the end of chiefly on his specialty of petroleum, its manufac- 1523, an expedition under Francisco Hernandez de ture and applications. He served in 1880 as Cordova, who founded the cities of Granada and special agent on the United States census, and con- Leon, and, exploring Lake Nicaragua, discovered tributed to the reports a valuable monograph on San Juan river, which he explored to its mouth in the subject, including a fall bibliography. In the Atlantic in 1524. Under his government also addition to his reports he wrote the article on the first expedition to Peru set out in 1525 under Francisco Pizarro (q. v.); but, always envious of the glory of others, Pedrarias did everything in his power to hamper Pizarro's operations. Meanwhile, Cordova, trying to withdraw from the authority of Pedrarias, had opened negotiations with Hernan Cortes, who at that time (1525) was at Honduras, offering to submit to his authority; but the latter refused the offer, although he ordered Pedro de Alvarado (q. v.) to aid Cordova in case of need. When Pedrarias heard of these negotiations he hastened with a small force to Nicaragua in 1526, captured Cordova in Leon, and, after a short trial, executed him in the latter city. During his absence he had been superseded in the government of Panama by Pedro de los Rios and remained in Nicaragua, but had repeated difficulties with Alvarado, who resented the execution of Cordova, and when Pedrarias heard in 1527 that Alvarado had obtained in Spain the title of adelantado and captain-general of Guatemala, fearing for his possessions, for which he held no legal title, he went to Spain in the next year to legalize his conquest, and he must have died soon afterward, as he is not mentioned again. PEDRO I. DE ALCANTARA, emperor of Brazil, b. in Lisbon, Portugal, 12 Oct., 1798; d. there, 24 Sept., 1834. He was son of the prince-regent João, heir-presumptive of the crown of Portugal, and he was hardly nine years of age when the Portuguese government, foreseeing that imminent peril threatened the royal family and the independence of the kingdom, resolved to send him to Brazil with the title of constable. But the march of the French army upon Portugal precipitated events. On 29 Nov. the Portuguese royal family, flying before the French, emigrated to Brazil, and in March, 1808, the city of Rio Janeiro became the capital of the Portuguese monarchy. By the elevation of his father to the throne in 1816, Dom Pedro became heir-presumptive to the crown, but, being entirely removed from public affairs, he had no political education. In 1818 he married the Archduchess of Austria, Leopoldina Carolina Josepha. When the revolution of Oporto in 1820 proclaimed a provisional junta and the calling of a congress to form a constitution, the garrison of Rio Janeiro, together with the people, rose on 26 Feb., 1821, and forced the king to swear to recognize the future constitution for Brazil also. In March the king announced his intention to return to Portugal, leaving Dom Pedro as regent in Brazil, and ordered elections for the cortes of Lisbon. But on 21 April the people decided not to let the king depart, and formed a plan to take possession of the forts and prevent the sailing of the fleet. The crown prince, at the head of the troops, dispersed the mutineers on the 22d, and on the 26th the royal family sailed for Portugal, and Pedro entered upon the regency. The Portuguese cortes, afraid that the presence of the prince in Brazil would cause a gradual separation, decreed the re-establishment of the colonial government and the return of the prince to Portugal, under the pretext that his education should be finished. When the decrees arrived, 10 Dec., 1821, the people rose, and representations from all parts of the country, begging the prince to establish himself in Brazil, were signed, and presented to him on 9 Jan., 1822, in Rio Janeiro. Pedro consented to remain, thus disobeying the cortes. He issued a decree calling deputies from the provincial legislatures to assemble in Rio Janeiro to consult about the future of the country, and ordered that no decree of the cortes be promulgated in Brazil without his approbation. Pedro was the object of continuous manifestations of loyalty, and on 13 May he was honored by the municipality, the people, and troops, with the title of "perpetual defender of Brazil," but the cortes of Portugal continued in an attitude of hostility. While he was on a trip to the province of São Paulo, Pedro heard that the cortes had annulled his acts and had declared the governing junta and the prince's advisers subject to criminal prosecution, and he answered by declaring on 7 Sept., on the borders of Ypiranga river, the absolute independence of Brazil. This declaration was received everywhere with enthusiasm, and on his return to Rio Janeiro he was proclaimed emperor of Brazil on his twenty-fourth birthday, and consecrated in the cathedral on 1 Dec. Under the guidance of Jose Bonifacio de Andrada é Silva (q. v.), his minister of foreign relations, he organized an army to attack Bahia, the stronghold of the Portuguese forces, and improvised a navy under Lord Thomas Cochrane to blockade that port. Hunger and the fear of Cochrane's fire-ships caused the Portuguese authorities to evacuate the city in the night of 2 July, 1823, with the fleet, the army, and seventy vessels laden with riches. On 27 July Maranhao capitulated, and in September the emperor's authority was acknowledged everywhere. On 25 March, 1824, the new constitution was proclaimed, but the northern provinces opposed it, and a revolution began in Pernambuco, which was subdued after a heroic resistance. In 1825 Portugal, yielding to the influence of England, recognized the independence of Brazil, and on 29 Aug. a treaty of peace was signed. The recognition by the treaty of a debt of £2,000,000 to Portugal burdened the finances of the new empire heavily, and the opposition began to attack the government, especially as the Brazilian arms were unfortunate in attempting to suppress the insurrection of the Banda Oriental (now Uruguay). In 1826 the death of King John VI. added a new difficulty, as Pedro I., his legal successor, seemed to be inclined to unite the two monarchies again, but he found such strong and general opposition that, after a consultation with his councillors, he abdicated the throne of Portugal in favor of his daughter, Maria da Gloria. But the unhappy result of the Cisplatine war and the recognition of the independence of Uruguay, and also his inclination for personal government and for sustaining the ministry against the expressed desire of the majority, made him unpopular. He was accused of spending the resources of the nation in reconquering for his daughter the throne of Portugal, which had been usurped by his brother, Dom Miguel, and, tired of the continual strife, he abdicated the throne on 7 April, 1831, in favor of his son, then in his sixth year. He then retired with the empress and Queen Maria of Portugal on board the British ship of the line " Warspite," and sailed for England, accompanied by the French frigate Seine," which carried his family to France. He organized in France a small army and fleet, and sailed on 10 Feb., 1832, for the Azores, leaving those islands with fresh troops in June to invade Portugal, and after a two years' campaign he estab lished his daughter on the throne, the capitulation of Evora, 26 May, 1834, finishing the civil war. His health being undermined by the campaign, he caused the cortes to declare his daughter of age on 17 Sept., and died a few days afterward.-His son, Pedro II. (JOÃO CARLOS LEOPOLDO SALVADOR BIBIANO FRANCISCO XAVIER DA PAULA LEOCADIO MIGUEL GABRIEL RAFAEL GONZAGA), emperor of Brazil, b. in Rio Janeiro, 2 Dec., 1825, by the abdication of his father, became sovereign of Brazil when not yet six years old. He had for two years, in 1831-33, as tutor and sole regent Dom Boni |