Wilkes, Charles
Charles (1801-1877), an American sailor and scientist. He was born in New York City and died in Washington, D. C. Young Wilkes entered the navy as a midshipman in 1817. He saw service in the Mediterranean and on the Pacific. In 1826 he received an appointment as lieutenant in the navy. During the years 1838-1842 he commanded an exploring expedition, the first scientific expedition ever fitted out by our national government. The expedition spent five years abroad. Various points on the coast of South America , Samoa, the Fiji Islands, Hawaii, the Antarctic regions, and the west coast of North America were visited. Soundings were taken and a vast amount of scientific material and information was collected. Wilkes wrote a narrative of his expedition which appeared in six volumes in 1845. When the Civil War broke out, Wilkes, in command of the San Jacinto, intercepted the British steamer Trent and took off Messrs. Mason and Slidell, Confederate commissioners to the government of England. See Trent Affair
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Wilkin S-Freeman
MARY ELEANOR, an American author; born in Randolph, Mass., in 1862. Her works, studies of New England "The Adventures of Ann" (1866); "A country life, are: Humble Romance" (1887), "A New England Nun" (1891), and "Young Lucretia" (1892), collections stories; "Giles Corey, Yeoman" (1893), of short a play; "Jane Field" (1893), "Pembroke (1894), novels; "The Long Arm" (1895), a "Jerome"; "Silence"; "The Love of Par- $2,000 prize detective story; son Lord"; "Understudies"; etc. She was married to Dr. Charles M. Freeman, Jan. 1, 1902.
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Wilkins Micawber
mi-kaw'ber, a character in Dickens' David Copperfield . In the long list of Dickens' characters there is none more celebrated than the impecunious, improvident, but kind-hearted Mr. Micawber. He is fond of making speeches, of writing elaborate letters, and is always in high spirits over some great scheme which is to enrich both himself and friends, or plunged into despair by the collapse of some such bubble. The position and social standing of his wife's family is a never failing source of pride and hope, and, when his debtors become too urgent, he invariably offers to settle by giving his "note of hand." Finally, through the efforts of David, to whom he was invariably kind, Mr. Micawber emigrates to Australia. Emotional Mrs. Micawber, who, through all their troubles, has declared persistently that she "will never desert Mr. Micawber," and their large family accompany him. In their new home something actually "turns up." Micawber pays his debts and becomes prosperous and happy. Who does not venerate the chief of that illustrious family, who, being stricken by misfortune, wisely and greatly turned his attention to "coals," the accomplished, the Epicurean, the dirty, the delightful Micawber.--Thackeray.
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Wilkinsburg
a borough of Pennsylvania, in Allegheny co. It is a residential suburb of Pittsburgh. It has two homes for the aged. Pop. (1910) 18,- 924; (1920) 24,403.
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Wilkinson
WILLIAM CLEAVER, an American educator; born in Westford, Vt., Oct. 19, 1833; was graduated at the University of Rochester in 1857; and in 1873 became dean of the Department of Literature and Art in the Chautauqua University, for which he prepared many text-books. In 1892 he became Professor of Poetry at Chicago University. Among his works are: "The Dance of Modern Society" (1869); "A Free Lance," etc. (1874); ; "The Baptist Principle" (1881); "Webster: An Ode" (1882); "Poems" (1883); essay on Edwin Arnold " " (1884); "College Greek Course in English"; "The Epic of Paul"; "The Epic of Saul"; "Poems"; "Paul and the Revolt Against Him" (1914); etc. He died in 1920.
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Will (Mental phenomenon)
a mental phenomenon of which there are recognized three orders or Cognition, feeling, and will. The classes: C first includes all the ways in which facts and relations become known; the second refers to the way in which the mind is affected as regards pleasure and pain; to the third, or will, belong all those mental states in which the mind or subject is regarded as producing changes either in the state of mind itself or in its bodily environment. The movements thus produced are called voluntary, and the mental acts producing them volitions. The term will may thus be said to refer to the active side of mind.
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Willamette River
a river in Oregon, rises in Lane county, and flows into Columbia river, 8 miles below Fort Vancouver, after a N. N. W. course of 200 miles, of which it is navigable for large vessels 15 miles to Portland, and above the falls for small steamboats about 60 miles. The valley of the Willamette is very fertile and picturesque, and often styled the "Garden of Oregon."
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Willamette University
a coeducational institution in Salem, Ore.; founded in 1844, under the auspices of the Methodist Episcopal Church; reported at the close of 1919: Professors and instructors, 15; students, 318; president, Rev. C. G. Doney, Ph. D.
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William Henry
FORT, a fort at the head of Lake George, N. Y.; in the town of Caldwell. It was taken from the English by the French and Indians under Montcalm, in August, 1757.
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William of Malmesbury
an English historian; born about 1095. He was librarian of the monastery at Malmesbury. He wrote: "History of the English Kings," and its continuation "Modern History," the two being the source from which all subsequent histories of England have drawn; "History of the Prelates of England"; "Lives" of St. Patrick, St. Dunstan, St. Wulfstan; several books of miracles; etc. He died in Malmesbury, about 1142.
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William of Newburgh
an English chronicler, one of the chief authorities for the reign of Henry II.; born in Bridlington, Yorkshire; lived from 1135 to 1200. His "History of Affairs in England" is divided into five_books, extending from 1066 to 1198. It is clear, sound, and unprejudiced, the characters drawn with discrimination, and the narrative is especially valuable as an authority on the struggle between Becket and the king.
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William of Tyre
a Syrian historian; born about 1137. He was Archbishop of Tyre (1175). He wrote "History of the Sovereigns of the East," and "History of Events in the Lands Across the Sea," a fine record of the Crusades from 1127 to 1184, first printed in 1549. There are German and French translations of the latter.
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