Blodget
SAMUEL, an American inventor, born in Woburn, Mass., April 1, 1724. He took part in the French and Indian War; was a member of the expedition against Louisburg, in 1745; and subsequently became a judge of the Court of Common Pleas, in Hillsbora BLOEMFONTEIN county, N. H. He was the inventor of an apparatus by which he recovered a valuable cargo from a sunken ship near Plymouth, Mass., in 1783. His success led him to go to Europe for similar enterprises, but he met with no encouragement. In 1793 he began the construction of the canal around Amoskeag Falls in the Merrimac which now bears his name.
He died in Haverhill, Mass., Sept. 1, 1807.
BLOEMFONTEIN (blem-fon'tin), city and capital of the former Orange Free State (name changed by the British, May 29 29, 1900, to Orange River Colony), South Af Africa; on the Modder river, 200 miles W. by N. of Durban, the base of British operations in the war against the Boers. In the war between Great Britain and the South African and Orange Free State Republics in 1899-1900 it was the seat of important military operations.
After the appointment of Lord Roberts to the supreme command of the British forces operating against the Boers, he led an expedition against the city and forced its surrender on March 13, 1900, President Steyn escaping capture. Pop. (1918) 15,752.
BLOIS (blwä), the capital of the French department of Loire-et-Cher, 99 miles S. S. W. of Paris, on the Loire, It consists of an upper town, a lower town, and several suburbs. The old castle, which has played an important part in French history, was restored by the Government in 1845. The main entrance is by a fine Gothic portal opening into a quadrangle, on the E. side of which is a pillared cloister, on the N. a pile of buildings in the Renaissance style, on the W. some unfinished buildings, and on the S. is the ancient part begun by the Dukes of Orleans.
There is also a cathedral of late date, the Church of St. Nicholas (12th century), a bishop's palace, Roman aqueduct, etc. The castle was long occupied by the counts of the name; and became a favorite residence of the kings of France. Louis XII. was born, Francis I., Henry II., Charles IX., and Henry III. held court here. During the World War Blois was used as a depot and head quarters for the American Expeditionary Force. Pop. about 25,000.