had been used effectively in the war with Tripoli in 1804; and they were favorites in the service, because they afforded commands for enterprising young officers. A few had been built in the United States in 1805, their chief contemplated use being the defence and protection of harbors and rivers. Then was inaugurated the "gunboat policy" of the government, so much discussed for three or four years afteryards.

Towards the close of the year 1806) the President announced that the fifty gunboats were so far advanced that they might be put into commission the following year. In December, 1807, the President was authorized to procure 188

additional gunboats, by purchase or construction, making in all 257. These gunboats were variously rigged as seen in the engraving. Some carried a single swivel amidship, and others one in the bow, and sometimes one in the stern. Jef ferson, who had urged the construction of these little vessels of war, appears to have conceived the idea that such a flotilla should merely be kept in readiness, properly distributed along the coast, but not actually manned until necessity should call for their being put into commission. For this proposition he was ridiculed not only by naval officers, but among the people at large, and he was denounced by the

RECENT TYPE OF GUNBOAT (U. 8. S. BENNINGTON.)

topographical engineers, July 7, 1838; engaged with Capt. Howard Stansbury in drawing maps of the Great Salt Lake region in 1849-51. He was author of a History of the Mormons of Utah: Their Domestic Polity and Theology. He was murdered, with seven others, by a band of Mormons and Indians near Sevier Lake, Ut., Oct. 26, 1853.

Gunpowder. See DU PONT, ÉLEUTHERE

IRENÉE.

Gurowski, ADAM, COUNT, author; born in Poland, Sept. 10, 1805; came to the United States in 1849. His publications include America and Europe; Slavery in History; My Diary (notes on the Civil War), etc. He died in Washington, D. C., May 4, 1866.

Guthrie, JAMES, statesman; born in Nelson county, Ky., Dec. 5, 1792; member of State legislature, 1827-40; Secretary of Treasury, 1853-57; United States Senator, 1865-68. He died in Louisville, Ky., March 13, 1869.

Guyot, ARNOLD HENRY, geologist; born in Bondevilliers, Neuchâtel, Switzerland, Sept. 28, 1807; was educated at the College of Neuchâtel. In 1838 he made examinations of the Swiss glaciers, at the request of PROF. LOUIS AGASSIZ (q. v.). In 1839-48 he was Professor of History and Physical Geography at Neuchâtel. In 1848 he came to the United States. In 1854 he became Professor of Geography and Geology at Princeton. He established the museum in Princeton, which has become widely known. In 1866-75 he was engaged in the preparation of a series of geographies and a series of wall-maps. For this work the Vienna Exposition of 1873 awarded him a medal. In 1873-77 he edited Johnson's New Universal Cyclopædia (with Frederick A. P. Barnard), and was the author of many articles in it on physical geography and like sub

jects. His publications include biographies of Carl Ritter, James H. Coffin, and Louis Agassiz; A Treatise on Physical Geography; Creation, or the Biblical Cosmogony in the Light of Modern Sciences; and also numerous lectures. He died in Princeton, N. J., Feb. 8, 1884.

Gwin, WILLIAM MCKENDREE, politician; born in Sumner county, Tenn., Oct. 9, 1805; acquired a classical education; and for a time studied law, and later entered the medical department at Transylvania University, where he took his degree in 1828. He went to Clinton, Miss., and practised there till 1833, when he was appointed United States marshal for the Mississippi district. In 1840 he was elected to Congress by the Democratic party. He refused a renomination, and was later appointed to superintend the construction of the new custom-house at

New Orleans. In 1849 he removed to California, and in September served in the convention at Monterey called to draw up a constitution. In December he became a United States Senator, and during his term secured a survey of the Pacific coast, a mint in San Francisco, a navy - yard (Mare Island), and got a bill passed for the establishment of a line of steamers between San Francisco, Japan, and China. He was re-elected, but when the Civil War began was accused of disloy alty, arrested, and imprisoned till 1863, when he was released. He interested the Emperor of France in a plan to colonize Sonora, Mexico, with Confederates. It is alleged that the French minister of foreign affairs encouraged him to draft a scheme for the colony, which, after meeting the approbation of the Emperor, was given into the hands of Emperor Maximilian. After the latter had been in Mexico two years, Dr. Gwin also went there, but received no promises of support from Maximilian in his colonization plans. Returning to France in 1865 he again laid the matter before Napoleon, at whose solicitation he returned to Mexico with orders to Marshal Bazaine to provide whatever force was necessary to make his plans successful. Dr. Gwin, however, received no encouragement and returned to California. He engaged actively in politics, and in 1876 supported Samuel J. Tilden for President. He was for many

years known as "Duke Gwin, of Sonora." He died in New York City, Sept. 3, 1885.

Gwinnett, BUTTON, a signer of the Declaration of Independence; born in England about 1732; was a merchant at Bristol, and emigrated to Charleston, S. C., in 1770. He settled on St. Catharine's Island, off the coast of Georgia, in 1772. Cautious and doubtful, he took no part in political affairs until after the Revolutionary War was begun, when he became active in the patriot cause. He was chosen a Representative in Congress in 1776, where he voted for and signed the Declaration of Independence. In 1777 he was president of the provincial council of Georgia, and by hostility to General McIntosh excited the resentment of the latter, who challenged Gwinnett to fight a duel. He accepted the challenge, and on

May 15, 1777, was mortally wounded, dying on the 27th.

Gwyn, WILLIAM M. See GWIN, WILLIAM M.

Gwyn's Island (Va.). After the destruction of NORFOLK (q. v.) by Lord Dunmore, the Tory governor of Virginia, the Americans, under Stevens, held the town until late in February, 1776, when they abandoned the place. Dunmore sailed down the Elizabeth River and landed at Gwyn's Island, which he fortified. GEN. ANDREW LEWIS (q. v.) erected two batteries, with which he attacked Dunmore on July 8, 1776. The next day the British fled to their ships, and, after plundering a number of plantations on the Potomac, divided their fleet, sending some of the ships to the Bermudas, some to the West Indies, and the remainder, with Dunmore, to New York City.