WHEELER, John Hill, historian, born in Murfreesboro, North Carolina, 6 August, 1806; died in Washington, D. C., 7 December, 1882. His ancestors were early settlers of North Carolina and direct descendants of Admiral Sir Francis Wheeler. John was graduated at Columbian university, Washington, D. C., in 1826, and at the law department of the University of North Carolina in 1828. He became a member of the North Carolina legislature in 1837, and in 1831 secretary of the board of commissioners under the treaty with France to decide on the claims of American citizens for spoliations under the Berlin and Milan treaties. He became superintendent of the branch United States mint at Charlotte, North Carolina, in 1836, and held office till 1841. He was chosen treasurer of North Carolina in 1842, and at the expiration of his term began his "History of North Carolina," to which he devoted himself for ten years (Philadelphia, 1851). In 1854-'7 he was United States minister to Nicaragua. As soon as William Walker established his authority there, Mr. Wheeler acknowledged his government, tie resigned that post in 1857, settled in Washington, D. C., where in 1859-'61 he was employed in the statistical bureau. Later he returned to North Carolina, but he took no active part in the civil war. In 1863 he was sent by the legislature to England for material for an enlarged edition of his "History of North Carolina." His later life was passed in Washington in collating the debates of congress, and in statistical labors. His other writings include "A Legislative Manual of North Carolina" (1874); " Reminiscences and Memoirs of North Carolina " (Columbus, Ohio, 1884); and he edited Colonel David Fanning's " Autobiography " (Richmond, Virginia, 1861).--His brother, Junius Brutus, soldier, born in Murfreesboro', North Carolina, 21 February, 1830; died in Lenoir, North Carolina, 15 July, 1886, was educated at the University of North Carolina, volunteered at the beginning of the Mexican war, and participated in every battle from Vera Cruz to the city of Mexico. He was promoted lieutenant in 1847, but resigned at the end of the war, entered the United States military academy, and was graduated in 1855. He was transferred to the topographical engineers in 1856, became 1st lieutenant on 1 July, 1860, was assistant professor of mathematics at the United States military academy in 1859-'61, and principal assistant professor there in 1861-'3. He became a captain in the engineer corps in March, 1863, chief engineer of the Department of the Susquehanna in June and September of that year, and chief engineer of the Army of the Arkansas from September, 1863, till May, 1864. He participated in engagements at Elkins Ferry, Prairie D'Ane, the occupation of Camden, and the battle of Jenkins Ferry, on the Saline river, 30 April, 1864, for which he was brevetted major, United States army. In March, 1865, he was brevetted lieutenant-colonel and colonel for meritorious service during the civil war. He was chief engineer of the military division of the Missouri in May and June, 1865, commanded the engineer depot at Jefferson Barracks, Maine, in July and December of that year, was assistant engineer on the Mississippi levees in 1865-'6, and superintendent engineer of harbor improvements in 1866. He became major of engineers, United States army, in 1866, and was then professor of mining and civil engineering at the United States military academy, which post he held till his retirement in 1885. He wrote a valuable series of military text-books that were adopted by the United States war department, and published under the titles "Civil Engineering" (New York, 1877); "Art and Science of War" (1878); " Elements of Field Fortifications" (1882); and "Military Engineering" (2 vols., 1884-'5).