March, 1813. His career in congress was memorable for his opposition to the war of 1812. From 1822 till 1834 he was a regent of the University of the State of New York. In 1839 he was appointed chargé d'affaires at the Plague, where he remained until 1842, when he returned to Albany, N. Y.
BLENAC, Charles de, governor of the French colonies in the West Indies and South America from 1712 to 1736. He died, soon after he was recalled by the king of France, in the latter year. During his administration, which was most prosperous, the secretaries of finance, justice, and police for the French section of the island of Santo Domingo were first appointed, 1718. Several serious revolts (from 1720 to 1728) were suppressed by pacific means. Then Blenac procured a revocation of the privileges of the West India company, which were the cause of the troubles, the company having the exclusive right to import slaves into the island. Blenac also put an end to filibusterism, which had
long been the only occupation of many men in Hayti. He promoted agriculture and commerce.
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BLENKER, Louis, soldier, b. in Worms, Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, 31 July, 1812 ; d. in Rockland co., N. Y., 31 Oct., 1863. In his youth he was apprenticed to a jeweller, but on becoming of age he enlisted in the Bavarian legion that was raised to accompany Prince Otho, then recently elected king, to Greece. When the legion was disbanded in 1837, he received the rank of lieutenant. He then returned home and began the study of medicine in the University of Munich, but soon gave this up to engage in the wine business in Worms. In 1849 he was a leading member of the revolutionary government in that city, and also burgomaster and commander of the national guard. He fought in several successful engagements with the Prussians; but the revolutionists being soon completely crushed, he retired into Switzerland. In September, 1849, having been ordered to leave that country, he came to the United States and settled in Rockland co., N. Y., where he undertook to cultivate a farm. Later he engaged in business in New York, and so continued until the beginning of the civil war, when he organized the 8th regiment of New York volunteers, of which he was commissioned colonel, 31 May, 1861. After some time spent in Washington his regiment was incorporated with others into a brigade attached to Col. Miles's 5th division in Gen. McDowell's army. During the first battle of Bull Run this division acted as a reserve, and covered the retreat with great steadiness, recovering two Union colors left on the field of battle by retreating soldiers. For his services at that time he was commissioned brigadier-general of the volunteers 9 Aug., 1861. He remained with the Army of the Potomac until the beginning of the peninsular campaign, when. he was ordered to western Virginia. He took an active part in the battle of Cedar Keys, 8 June, 1862; but after the arrival of Gen. Frémont he was succeeded by Gen. Sigel. Gen. Blenker was then ordered to Washington, and on 31 March 1863, was mustered out of service. He returned to his farm in Rockland co., where he remained until his death, which resulted from internal injuries received from a fall of his horse in entering the town of Warrenton, Va.. while with his command.
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BLENNERHASSETT, Harman, scholar, b. in Hampshire, England, 8 Oct., 1764 or 1765; d. on the island of Guernsey, 1 Feb., 1831. He was educated at Westminster school, London, and at Trinity college, Dublin, where he also studied law, and received the degree of B. A. and LL. B. in 1790. Having succeeded to the family property. he spent some time in travel on the continent, where he acquired the republican ideas that were prevalent at that time. He therefore decided to settle in the United States, and, after marrying Adeline Agnew, daughter of the lieutenant-governor of the isle of Man, disposed of his estates, supplied himself with an extensive library and philosophical apparatus, and sailed in 1797 for New York. In 1798 he purchased a small island in the Ohio river, a few miles below Parkersburg, then called Backus island. Here he erected a spacious mansion which he fitted up with rich furniture, costly pictures and statues, and had the surrounding grounds elaborately cultivated. In this romantic locality he passed his time in the study of chemistry, galvanism, astronomy, and similar sciences, and in dispensing a generous hospitality to his many distinguished guests. Among the latter was Aaron Burr, who visited him in 1805, and succeeded in interesting him in his treasonable schemes, the real character of which Blennerhassett probably did not realize. The fortune that had been so liberally expended in the fitting up of his property had become somewhat diminished, and he gladly entered upon any enterprise by means of which large returns might be secured. He published a series of papers supporting the views of Burr in the “Ohio Gazette” under the pen-name of Querist, and he also invested large sums of money in boats, provisions, arms, and ammunition for the expedition. Soon after this he went to Kentucky, whence, on being warned of Burr's real designs, he returned to his to his island greatly disheartened; but in response to the repeated solicitations of Burr and to the persuasions of his wife, he persisted in the undertaking. A proclamation against the scheme having been issued by President Jefferson, Blennerhassett, who was expecting arrest, escaped from the island, and, eluding pursuit, joined Burr at the mouth of Cumberland river. Meanwhile his home was overrun by a party under Col. Phelps, who wantonly destroyed much of the property. Burr's scheme hav-
