McMASTER, Guy Humphrey, poet, born in Clyde, New York, 31 January, 1829; died in Bath, Steuben County, New York, 13 September, 1887. He was graduated at Hamilton college in 1847, with the reputation of being the most brilliant student that the college had ever known. At nineteen years of age he wrote "Carmen Bellicosum," better known as "The Old Continentals," which was published in the "Knickerbocker Magazine," and at, once attained popularity. In his youth he also contributed to the " Whig Review " and " Putnam's Monthly," and published a " History of Steuben County, New York" (Bath, 1849). He afterward abandoned literature for law, and contributed to the press only at intervals. He edited the "Steuben Courier" in 1855, again in 1876, and in 1877, while he was abroad, he contributed to its columns a series of articles called "Other Side Letters," that were widely copied. His best-known poems besides "Carmen Bellicosum" are a "Dream of Thanksgiving Eve" (1864); "The Commanders," a poem delivered at the Newton Sullivan centennial celebration, which is included in "Gen. Sullivan's Indian Expedition" (New York, 1887); and "The Professor's Guest Chamber" (1880). He was admitted to the bar of Steuben county in 1852, and practised until 1863, when he became county judge and surrogate, held both offices till their separation in 1883, when he was elected surrogate.