Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-03-24
DR.. Il. STONE wIGGINS.
The Prophet,s Bioorapb,

Prof. Virgins, of this city, whose name
has been within the past six months
spread far and wide, in connection with
his prophetic work, was born in the county
of Queens, N. B., in 1889, and is of
United Empire Loyalist descent. He is a
direct descendant of Capt. Thomas
Virgins, who was sent in 1880 by Lords
Laye and Brooks as governor of the then
American plantations, and whose family
were among the first to urge upon the
home government the right of the
colonists. We learn from VIM. Cullen
Bryant's history of the United States that
Capt. Virgins, son of Thomas, was one Of
the first to protest against the tyrapnical
authority of the colonial governors. In
the year 1866 Robert Mason, who was at
the head of the ministry of Lit. Gov. eau
held, attempted to exact sixpence per
pound upon the settlers of New Hamp-
shire of the preceding forty years, on the
ground that his father had had the title
of the territory. Mr.. t. Virgins, son of
Capt. L. Virgins, was one of those who
loudly complained against the then injus-
tice.
Prof. Virgins was educated at the
Albert university, Ontario, and took the
degree B. A. in 1868, subsequently beoom-
ms Doctor of Medicine, and is author of
several books on astronomy and other
subjects. His English grammar for Cana
dian high schools and his architecture of
the heavens being regarded as superior
works. He was superintendent of education
for one Of the Ontario districts, and in
1869 member of the board of examiners
for the examination of teachers for Ontario
In 1868. After standing at the head of
several educational institutions he was ap-
pointed principal of the Ontario institu-
tion for the education of the blind, Brant-
ford, position he held for years. To fit
him for the post, he was sent by the
Ontario government, in 1871, to visit the
United States, and to employ skilled teach
ers for the new institution. In 1878 he
was chosen as ministerial candidate for the
house of commons in the general election
of that year and was defeated, but took
Office under the government of Sir John
Macdonald, which he at present fills. He
at first came into notice in this country as
an astronomer in 1874, when the alarm
was created that the earth, since the tran
sit Of Venus in 1854, and the transit of
that year, had gone 100000 miles nearer
the sun. This Prof. Virgins demonstrat-
ed from the lunar and solar eclipses to
have been an impossibility. Again in 1881
he was competitor for the Warner prize
for the best essay on comets, and for which
125 American astronomers competed,
when he stood second, and some say first
on the list. His wife, who by the way, is
his cousin-brothers' children-has recent
ly become famous as the author of series
of letters, signed Gunhilda, which were
addressed to his lordship the Anglican
bishop of Ontario, who three years ago
undertook to defeat in the senate the bill
to legalize marriage with deceased wife's
sister. But though his lordship defended
the measure, Gunhilda's letters made way
for the passage of the bill the following
year. To carry the bill through Mrs. Wig
gins was obliged to enter the senate aad
personally canvass the senators, which she
did with success.