RIPLEY, Eleazar Wheelock, soldier, born in Hanover, New Hampshire, 15 April, 1782: died in West Feliciana, Louisiana, 2 March, 1839. His father, Sylvanus, was professor of divinity for many years in Dartmouth, where the son was graduated in 1800. He then began the practice of law, settled in Portland. Me., was a member of the Massachusetts legislature in 1810-'12, its speaker, and state senator the latter year. At the beginning of the second war with Great Britain he was appointed lieutenant in the 21st infantry, became colonel in March, 1813, and was wounded in the attack on York (now Toronto), Canada, 13 April, 1813. He was actively engaged on the frontier till 14 April, 1814, when he was appointed brigadier-general, commanded the second brigade of General Jacob Brown's army in July following', and led it with gallantry in the battles of Chippewa and Niagara, winning the brevet of major-general for his conduct, and receiving severe wounds in the latter engagement. In the de-fence of Fort Erie, 15 August, and the sortie of 17 September, 1814, in which he was shot through the neck, he bore a gallant part, and for his services during that campaign he received a gold medal from congress, on which was inscribed "Niagara, Chippewa, Erie." At the reduction of the army in 1815 he was retained in the service, but he resigned in 1820 and removed to Louisiana, where he practised law, and was a member of the state senate. He was elected to congress as a Jackson Democrat in 1834, and served until his death, which was the result of his old wounds. He published a Fourth-of-July oration (1805).