Otis
Otis names 3 different subjects across the 6 encyclopedias on this shelf. Each is set out below.
Otis ELWELL STEPHEN, an American military officer
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
ELWELL STEPHEN, an American military officer; born in Frederick, Md., March 25, 1838; was graduated at Rochester (N. Y.) University in 1858, and began the study of law. When the Civil War broke out, he entered the volunteer service as captain in the 140th New York I Infantry. He took an active part in the battle of Gettysburg. At the battle of the Wilderness, he commanded as lieutenant-colonel the picket line of the 5th Corps, which brought on the engagement. At Spottsylvania the regiment lost its colonel and Otis succeeded to the command. He was severely wounded near Petersburg, Oct. 1, 1864, and was disabled for duty. He was discharged from the volunteer service Jan. 24, 1865, with the brevet rank of Brigadier-General. In 1866 he was appointed lieutenant-colonel of the 22d United States Infantry, and became colonel of the 20th Infantry in 1880. From 1867 to 1881 he served with the army in the West organized the School of Infantry and against the Indians. In 1881 he Cavalry at Fort Leavenworth, Kan.; Nov. 28, 1893, was promoted promoted to the full rank of Brigadier-General. On Dec. 1 of the same year he was assigned to the command of the Department of the Columbia, with headquarters at Vancouver, and in 1897 was transferred to the Department of Colorado. On May 28, 1898, he was appointed Major-General of volunteers and assigned to duty in command of the Department of the Pacific, and as military governor of the Philippines, which 5 office he held till May 5, 1900. He was a member of the Philippine commission, and on June 16, 1900, was promoted Major-General, U. S. A., and later assigned to the Department of the Lakes. He died Oct. 21, 1909.
Otis JAMES, an American statesman
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
JAMES, an American statesman; born in West Barnstable, Mass., Feb. 5, 1725. At an early age he attracted attention by his el eloquence in behalf of the colonists against British oppression, and his determined opposition to the "writs of assistance" in 1761. Through his efforts the Stamp Act Congress was assembled in 1765. He was the author of a number of political essays and orations, among which are "Vindication of the Conduct of the House of Representatives" (1762); "Rights of the British Colonies Asserted" (1765); "Consideration on Behalf of the Colonists" (1765). He died in Andover, Mass., May 23, 1783.
Otis HARRISON GRAY, an American statesman
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
HARRISON GRAY, an American statesman, son of James; born in Boston, Mass., Oct. 8, 1765; was member of Congress, 1797-1801, and United States Senator, 1817-1822. He was prominent in the Massachusetts Legislature; took an active part in the Hartford Convention of 1814; and was mayor of Boston in 1829. His published works include: "Letters in Defense of the Hartford Convention" (1824), and "Orations in Boston and Addresses." He He died , Oct. 28, 1848.
What Has Changed in the Last Century
Collier's calls Harrison Gray Otis the "son of James" Otis; he was in fact James Otis's nephew, son of Samuel Allyne Otis, the first Secretary of the United States Senate. The gap in the Elwell Stephen Otis entry is larger still: it lists him as "military governor of the Philippines" to May 5, 1900, without once naming the Philippine-American War he was directing, and modern accounts hold him responsible for censoring press dispatches from Manila and for assuring Washington that Filipino resistance was collapsing when it was not. James Otis's account stands well, though the detail Collier's leaves out is the most famous thing about him: years of mental derangement after a 1769 beating by a customs official, ending when he was killed by lightning at Andover in 1783. He is still credited, on John Adams's authority rather than any surviving text, with the argument behind "taxation without representation is tyranny."
Written for this edition, 2026.