SKINNER, John Stuart, editor, born in Maryland, 22 February, 1788; died in Baltimore, 21 March, 1851. At the age of twenty-one he began practice as a counsellor and attorney. In 1812 he was a government agent "to receive and forward the ocean mails, to furnish the vessels with necessary supplies, and to see that nothing transpired prejudicial to the interests of the republic or offensive to enemies thus admitted under the guardianship of a flag of truce." For this responsible trust President Madison framed a special commission and selected Mr. Skinner to execute it. To this duty was soon after added that of agent for prisoners of war. hi 1813 he was ordered to remove his offices from Annapolis to Baltimore, and a little later he accepted a purser's commission in the navy. This post he filled during the war, and for several years afterward. When the British forces moved toward Washington, Mr. Skinner rode ninety miles in the night, and first announced their approach. The British retaliated by burning the buildings on his St. Leonard's creek estate, for which loss he never sought remuneration from the government. He was with Francis S. Key on the mission that suggested the latter's song. " The Star-Spangled Banner." From 1816 till 1849 he was postmaster of Baltimore. Having much practical knowledge of agriculture and rural sports, in April, 1819, he established " The American Farmer," the first agricultural journal in this country. This periodical was warmly supported by Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson, Timothy Picketing, and others of recognized ability. When General Lafayette revisited the United States in 1824 he was the guest of Mr. Skinner during his sojourn in Baltimore, and selected the latter as agent to manage the 20,000-acre grant of land that had been voted him by congress. In August, 1829, Mr. Skinner published the first number of the "American Turf Register and Sporting Magazine," a monthly periodical. His devotion to this work induced him to dispose of the "American Farmer" the same year. After conducting the "Turf Register" successfully for ten years, he sold the magazine, and in July, 1845, began a new publication, the "Farmer's Library and Monthly Journal of Agriculture," published by Greeley and McElrath. This was succeeded in 1848 by the "Plough, the Loom, and the Anvil," which he conducted until his death. These periodicals gave a new stimulus to agricultural pursuits, and added to the general popularity of out-door sports. At various times he edited for publication in this country several standard foreign works, including Alexander Petzhold's "Lectures on Agricultural Chemistry," Henry Stephens's "Book of the Farm," and Albrecht Daniel Thur's "Principles of Agriculture," in the "Farmer's Library and Monthly Journal of Agriculture" (New York, 1846-'8); "Youatt on the Horse" (1844); "Every Man his own Cattle Doctor" (1844); and "Guenon on Milch Cows." with an introduction; and he wrote "Christmas Gift to Young Agriculturists" (Washington, 1841); "Letter on Nautical Education" (1841): and "The Dog and Sportsman" (1845).--His son, Frederick Gustavus, born in Annapolis, Maryland, 11 March, 1814, at the age of twelve years was taken to La Grange by General Lafayette, and received his early education there. On returning to this country, he entered West Point. When General Lafayette died, congress passed complimentary resolutions upon his life and services, and Mr. Skinner was selected by President Jackson to convey these resolutions to Lafayette's family. After remaining two years in France, as working attache of the American legation, he made a tour of the continent, and enjoyed the widest possible range of field sports. At the opening of the civil war he was given command of the 1st Virginia infantry, and he was colonel of that regiment until disabled by wounds. After the war he went to Egypt, and, refusing a commission in the Egyptian army, devoted his attention to the field sports of that country. Upon returning to his native land, he joined the staff of the "Turf, Field, and Farm," in New York, and, as field editor of that journal, was instrumental in bringing about the first field-trial, the first bench-show of dogs, and the first international gun-trial that was ever held in the United States. He was at one time chief of the agricultural bureau of the United States patent-office, and published "Elements of Agricultural Chemistry, from the French" (Philadelphia, 1854).