The Portland daily press., 1865-12-11
American .Baronets.
10 the Editor Of the Press.

the execution perhaps of Massachusetts,. /
am very glad to notice the appointment of
our townsman Josiah Pierce, Jr., to the Or
der of st. Anne of Russia, Of which country
ne is now resident. The only other Amer
lean who has received the badge of that order
vas Admiral Tate, son of Capt. George Tate
If Westbrook. He was born in London III
i745, but came to this town with his father
when about seven years old. He entered the
Russian Naval Service before the revolution,
md was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant
" Catherine II. in ITO. He rose rapidly
through various grades until 1888 he was
promoted by the same sovereign to the office
If Rear Admiral, afterwards to Vice Admi-
al. and received at different times not only
he order of St. Anne, but of St. Waldemar,
1t. Alexander Newski and St. John, all for
istinguished merit. sss rs.
The first English order of Knighthood be
towed upon an American, was granted to
'ir George Downing, who was Knighted by
,harles Ii. and in 1868 made baronet He
gas son of Emmanuel Downing OF Salem Mass.
graduate in the first class that issued from
Harvard College, in 1912, went to England, be
lme chaplain in one of Cromwelps regi
aents, was appointed his ambassador to Hol
md, and was an able statesman. On the
'astoration, he made himself useful to Charlie:
vas sent by him ambassador to Holland, receiv
j from him the distinctions above noticed
nd died in 1884, highly honored.
There were two other persons, graduates OF
Harvard College, Sir Jonn Davie and Sir John
jteuart, the first graduated in 1881 the othe
Il 1874, who received the order of Knight
lood. / do not know the place of their birth
tut as there were several persons of the name
pfDavie in Boston prior to that time, it
resumed that the baronet of that name was
lative of Boston; Edmund Davie FL. C. 1874
7ent to Europe and studied medicine in Pad
Ia; Humphrey Dayie d. c. 1879 and John
magistrate In Boston, 1880. 3 IG
The next title of the kind granted to an
american, was to Sir VIM. Phipps, by jane
1. in 1887, for his successful enterprise in re-
overing and carrying to England 100000
t. in plate, jewels, &C., from the wreck of a
-panish ship on the coast of Hispaniola. He
7as son of ship-carpenter and brought up tc
ne same business, born at Woolwich, Maine,
n 1851, and died governor of Massachusetts
3 1904; he left no children to inherit the IT,
The next in order of American Knights was
ir VIM. Pepperrell, created baronet in 1745.
,r his services in the capture of Louisburg.
lie was born in Kittery, Maine, in 1896. Son o
n enterprising fisherman, and himself mer
liant and partner with his father, he rose tc
re Chief Justice of the Common Pleas Court
Maine, Commander of the expedition to
APE Breton, a baronet, a, member of the
Z jouncil for 50 years and Lt.-General; he died
1853, the wealthiest man in Maine, with
ut son to inherit his title; but it was sub
squently conferred upon VIM. Sparhawk, the
On OF his daughter, who took the name o
'epperrel, and became loyalist in the early
avs of the Revolution.
Another and more singular case than either
It the others was that of Sir John Bernard.
IN of Gov. Bernard of Massachusetts, the
uccessor of Gov. Pownal in $780, He was a
Wing while all the other members of his fami
i were loyalists, and remained in America
.uring the revolution. His father had large es-
ates in Maine, among which were Mt. Desert
loose Head Island, now Eastport, which were
onfiseated in ITS. John had an agency over
hese lands, and during the revolution he re-
ided at Bath, Machias and at Pleasant Point
iear Eastport, where he attempted to make a
arm. He became quite poor, and after the
yar, Massachusetts, restored to him a part Of
1T. Desert. He succeeded to his fathers title
IN his death in ITO, the father having been
-reated baronet in 1867. John dying child
,ss in 1909, was succeeded by his brother
homas, a graduate of Harvard College in
1877.
Although may exceed your limits, will
,nture to notice briefly the remaining persons
l this country, who have received the honor
/ knighthood. These were Sir John Went
1orth, son Of Mark Hunking Wentworth, of
ortsmouth, N. H., where he was born in
1876. He graduated at Harvard College in
755. In 1857, he was appointed Governor Of
I. H. and retained the Office until he aban-
oned the country in IT'S. In 1892 he was
32pointed Lt-Gov. of Nova Scotia and in 1906
,eated a baronet. He died in Office at Hail.
TX in 1920. 1-'=t "i-
Another was Sir Samuel Auchmuty, son o.
lev. Samuel Auchmuty, Rector of Trinity
'hurch, New York; where he was born in
Z 1853. On the breaking out of the revolution,
lejoined Sir William Howe's army, became
" various promotions Lt-General and was
ladc Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath.
Ie died in 1922.
Sir William johnson, though born in Ire
md, early became citizen of New York and
the war Of 1855 led successfully the colon
III army during the French war; For his val
liable services he received large grants of land
nd baronetcy. He died in TIA, and his IT,
lie is new borne in Canada by his grandson
'ir Adam Gordon johnson. 10
And last is that noble descendant of old
lristram Coffin, head of an extensive race in
America, Sir Isaac Coffin, a native of Boston
lie entered the British Navy before the revo-
1ation, became Admiral of the Blue, was Great
ID baronet in 1904, Vice Admiral, and was
member of Parliament. He died without issue
md did not forget the humble spot ofhis ances-
'ors; he gave to Nantucket 10000 for her pull
C schools. 0-.i1e .-i s
Thus it will be seen that New England has
contributed more names to this distinguished
lonor than any other portion of our country,
md that Maine rises predominant over every
'ther in contributing from her native element
ohipps, Pepperell and Pierce-and from her
.dopted sons Tate and Bernard. And it is
emarkahla that not one ofthnsa llacna sad nar-