The Washington times., 1912-04-16
Francis D. Millet,
Soldier, Painter,
And ConnoiSseur

Francis D. Millet, while compare
lively unknown even to Washington
JAMS, despite the fact that he has made
this city his home for, years, and has
given the best of his artistic life to-
ward the Identification of Washington,
was one Of the city's most picturesque
characters. No chapter Of fictional ad-
venture can rival a chapter in the real
life of Mr.. Millet. Soldier Of fortune,
adventurer. war correspondent, art stu
dent, and artist, he seems to have been
constituted Of the stun which makes
dramatic events possible.
Mr.. Millet, since the civil war, served
as a war correspondent In every strug-
gle of any consequence. There isn't a
language spoken in either the civilized
or uncivilized world, 1t Is said, where
any kind of a war has occurred since
the 70's. that he could not speak. Born
In Mattapoissett, Mass, November 8.
is4e, the greater part of his school edu-
cation was received before he had at
tained the age of sixteen. IN 1864 he
induced his parents to permit him to
enter the service of the Union army,
and he became a drummer boy with
the Sixtieth Massachusetts Volunteers.
II was but a short time until he be-
came acting assistant contract surgeon
OF the Army Of the Potomac. .... 2.
At the close Of the civil war he went
to Harvard, and from that institution
| In 1863 was given a bachelor OF arts
degree. Three years later he was given
a master OF arts degree. In 1879 he
was married to Elizabeth Greeley Mer-
rill, OF Boston. '... 90.
In lS1-1S72 he was at the Royal Acad'
emy of Fine Arts, Antwerp. and the
! following year was made secretary OF
the Massachusetts commission OF fine
| arts at the Vienna Exposition.
His first experience as a war cor
respondent was in 1877. when he Gov
cred" the Russo-Turkish war for the
New York Herald. London Daily News
was director of decorations at the
| Worlds Columbian Exposition in Chi
cago. In July, 1888. he was sent e
| Manila by the London Times and
| Harper's Weekly.
| was one of the most noted in his par
| ticular kind of work in the world. HI
was a member of the National Com
| mission Of Fine Arts, and was return
| ing from London whittier he had beer
studying several proposed plans for th'
Identification of Washington, when thu
Titantic went down.
| AS an author Mr.. Millet gained SOM
distinction THE Capillary Crime, and
| Other Stories" The Danube" anC
sExpedition to the Philippines, wer'
among his best known works. He wa
! a member OF the National Institute o
Arts and Letters, OF. the Grand Arm!
OF the Republic, of the Society o.
| Painters in OIL Colors, London ant
honorary member of the American In
1 stitute of Architects.
| For several years Mr.. Mtllet has spen
a part of each season In washington
| He kept bachelor quarters at 1855 WIS
| consin avenue, Georgetown, where h
| maintained a studio.
| One of the most practical men or nj
profession, his practicability was car
ried out at all times. A fair exampl
/ of this is shown in the pronunciauol
OF his name. He always insisted tina
! the combination of letters which com
posed his name spelled "millet," witt
! the accent on the first syllable and tn
I final letter sounded. and strenuousl
J objected to the French pronunciation
beinR given 1t