STURGE, Joseph, English author, born in Elverton, Gloucestershire, England, in 1793; died in Birmingham, 1 May, 1859. He was a member of the Society of Friends, established himself as a corn-factor in Birmingham in 1820, acquired great wealth, and devoted himself, among other philanthropic objects, to the abolition of slavery. To familiarize himself with the subject of slavery, he visited the West Indies in 1837, and four years later the United States. He published "The West Indies in 1837" (London, 1838), and " Visit to the United States in 1841 " (Boston, 1842). The "Memoirs of Joseph Sturge" were written by Henry Richard (London, 1864).

--BEGIN-Daniel Sturgeon

STURGEON, Daniel, senator, born in Adams county, Pennsylvania, 27 October, 1789; died in Uniontown, Fayette County, Pennsylvania, 2 July, 1878. He was educated at Jefferson college, Pennsylvania, studied medicine in Fayette county, and in 1813 began practice. In 1818 he was chosen a member of the Pennsylvania house of representatives, serving three terms, and in 1825 he was elected to the state senate, being speaker of that body the last three years of his term. In 1830 he was appointed auditor-general of the state, which office he filled six years, and in 1838 and 1839 he was state treasurer and ended the " Buckshot war" by refusing to honor Governor Ritner's warrant for payment of the troops. He was elected United States senator as a Democrat for the term that began 4 March, 1839, and was re-elected to that body, his last term expiring 3 March, 1851. In 1853 President Polk appointed him treasurer of the United States mint at Philadelphia, which post he held until 1858. Although he was called the "silent senator," he was considered a hard-working committee-member. He made but one speech, and that was to reiterate a remark he had made in committee: "Any senator who says anything that would tend to the disruption of the Union is a blackhearted villain."