Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 03.djvu/344
L)U CIIAILLU
DUCHESNE
over S.IHM) miles with no white man for com-
pjiniou. Ill the journey he secvired rare birds,
reptiles and quadruiK'ds never before seen or
classified. He included in his collection several
gorillas, which animal had never before been
studied by scientists and was at the time unknown
to white men. He returned to New York in 1859
and exliibited liis trophies, many of which were
afterward secured by the British musemn. His
discoveries changed the accepted maps of that
section of Africu and his statements published
at the time were received with distrust. This
led to a controversy between Professor Gray of
the British museum and Prof. Richard Owen, the
latter defending the traveller. He thereupon
decided to make a second expedition to verify his
previous observations, first pursuing a course of
scientific study to enable him to take accurate
nieasui-ements, make astronomical calculations
and produce jjhotographs of the places visited.
AVhile so preparing himself a French government
expedition explored the Ogobai river and con-
firmed Du Chaillu's reports. Capt. Richard F.
Burton verified his statements as to the existence
and methods of the Fan tribe of cannibals. He
nevertheless carried out his original project and
sailed for England in August, 1863. On endeav-
oring to land at the mouth of the Ogobai river
he lost his scientific instruments, including his
camera, and was forced to await a new supply
from England, spending his time in studying
the habits of the gorilla. In September, 1864,
with ten Commi negroes, he returned to the
jungle and made careful observations. He also
discovered tribes and countries hitherto un-
known. Being robbed of all his outfit save his
written journals, which gave his astronomical
observations, he was obliged to discontinue his
journey in September, 1865. He then visited
England and returned to the United States
where he published his journal and lectured for
a number of years, extending his lecture tour to
England, Scandinavia, Lapland and Finland, and
finally making his home in New York city. On
Jan. 30, 1><1)3, the council of the American geo-
graphical society presented him with a silver
loving-cup in commemoration of the twenty-
fifth anniversary of his return from Africa.
He died in St. Petersburg. Rassia, April 29,
1903. His published works include: Explora-
tions and Adventures in Equatorial Africa
(1861. 2d edition, 1871); A Journey to Ashango
Lfiud (1867); Stories of the Gorilla Country (1868);
Wild Life Under the Equator (1869); Lost in the
Jungle (1869); My Apingi Kingdom (1870); The
Country of the Dioarfs (1871); The Land of the Mid-
night Sun (1881): The Viking Age (1887); Irar, the
Viking (1893); The People of the Great African
Forest; The Land of the Long Night.
DUCilE, Jacob, clergyman, was born in Phil-
adeli)lua, Pa., in January, 1737; son of Jacob and
Mary (Spence) Duch6. His father immigrated
to America with William Penn and became
mayor of Philadelphia. The son was prepared
for college at Clare Hall, Philadelphia, and was a
tutor in 1753. On May 25, 1754, he entered the
College of Philadelphia, afterward the University
of Pennsylvania, anil was graduated in 1757
valedictorian of the first class to be graduated.
He then went to England and studied theology
at the University of Cambridge until 1759, when
he was licensed by the bishop of London as an
assistant minister, serving in Christ church,
Philadelphia, 1759-75. He was professor of ora-
tory in the College of Philadelphia, 1759-78;
rector of Christ church and St. Peter's, Philadel-
phia, 1775-77; and a trustee of the College of
Philadelphia, 1761-78. At the breaking out of
the Revolutionary war he took sides with the
patriots and made the opening prayer at the
assembling of the 1st continental congress,
Sept. 7, 1774. He was chosen chaplain to con-
gress, July 9, 1776, and on Oct. 8, 1777, he wrote
an extraordinary letter to General Washington,
which was delivered by Mrs. Ferguson and which
Washington transmitted to congress. "The
object of this letter," says a biographer, "was
to cast a general odium on the Whig cause, to
induce Washington to apostatize and resign his
command of the army, or, at the head of it, to
force congress to desist from hostilities and to
rescind the Declaration of Independence."' The
result of the letter was the banishment of its
author and the confiscation of his estate. His
house was bought by Thomas McKean, a signer
of the Declaration of Independence. Dr. Duch6
went to England and during the Revolution-
ary war was chaplain to the Asylum in St.
George's Fields, London. He returned to Phila-
delphia in 1790. He was married to Elizabeth,
daughter of the Hon. Thomas Hopkinson. In
1768 he was elected a member of the American
philosophical society. He received the degree of
D.D. His published works include: Letters nf
7'amor Cdspifiina (1774), and Discourses (1779).
He died in Pliiladdpliia. Pa.. Jan. 3, 1798.
DUCHESNE, Philippa Rose, pioneer, was born in France in 1769. She received a thorough edu- cational ti-aining which included higher mathe matics and the classics. Her confes.sor at the convent where she was sent to prepare for her first communion had been a missionary in Louisiana, and his account convinced her of the needs of the women and girls in that region. After devoting herself for a time to the care of prisoners and the education of street children in Grenoble, she organized in 1801 a community of women who devoted themselves to teaching