New Page 1
OUVRIER, Pierre Gustave, French historian, born
in Calais in 1765; died there in 1822. After finishing his studies, he was for
some time a clerk in a Calais shipping-house, and in 1789 came to Philadelphia
as agent of his firm. But the French revolution and the war with Great Britain
ruined his employers, and he became a teacher of languages. In 1795 Pierre Adet,
then French chargé d’affaires in Philadelphia, appointed him chancellor to the
French consulate, and afterward sent him to explore the southern and central
states, while Pallssot (q. v.) visited the northern states.
Ouvrier descended the Mississippi to New Orleans, sailed
up Missouri and Arkansas rivers, and took the bard-metrical level of points
along their banks, traveled for two months through the Indian reservations, and
explored Louisiana, Missouri, northern Texas, Georgia, both Carolinas, Ohio,
Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and southern Illinois, during 1796-1804,
forming a valuable collection of historical documents.
On his return to Philadelphia he resumed his labors as
teacher, but, through the aid of wealthy citizens who had become interested in
his works, he was afterward afforded the means to devote himself exclusively to
historical researches. Obtaining access to the Federal archives and to those of
several states, he made copies of important documents, and also explored the
principal libraries of the country in 1808-'14.
Returning to
France after the restoration of Louis XVIII, he secured employment in the
department of taxes of his native city, which he held to the time of his death.
His valuable collections were afterward bought at auction by the National
library of Berlin, where they still remain.
He
published, among other works, "Histoire politique et civile des Etats-Unis de
l'Amerique du Nord" (3 vols., Calais. 1819), and "Etudes critiques sur la
constitution politique des Etats-Unis de l'Amerique du Nord, et des
contradictions qui existent entre elle et les lois civiles des divers etats de
l'union" (1822).
Edited Appletons Encyclopedia, by John Looby Copyright © 2001
StanKlos.comTM
OUVRIER, Pierre Gustave, French historian, born in Calais in 1765; died there in 1822. After finishing his studies, he was for some time a clerk in a Calais shipping-house, and in 1789 came to Philadelphia as agent of his firm. But the French revolution and the war with Great Britain ruined his employers, and he became a teacher of languages. In 1795 Pierre Adet, then French charge d>affaires in Philadelphia, appointed him chancellor to the French consulate, and afterward sent him to explore the southern and central states, while Palls-sot (q. v.) visited the northern states. Ouvrier descended the Mississippi to New Orleans, sailed up Missouri and Arkansas rivers, and took the bard-metrical level of points along their banks, travelled for two months through the Indian reservations, and explored Louisiana, Missouri, northern Texas, Georgia, both Carolinas, Ohio, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and southern Illinois, during 1796-1804, forming a valuable collection of historical documents. On his return to Philadelphia he resumed his labors as teacher, but, through the aid of wealthy citizens who had become interested in his works, he was afterward afforded the means to devote himself exclusively to historical researches. Obtaining access to the Federal archives and to those of several states, he made copies of important documents, and also explored the principal libraries of the country in 1808-'14. Returning to France after the restoration of Louis XVIII., he secured employment in the department of taxes of his native city, which he held to the time of his death. His valuable collections were afterward bought at auction by the National library of Berlin, where they still remain. He published, among other works, " Histoire politique et civile des Etats-Unis de l'Amerique du Nord" (3 vols., Calais. 1819), and "Etudes critiques sur la constitution politique des Etats-Unis de l'Amerique du Nord, et des contradictions qui existent entre elle et les lois civiles des divers etats de l'union " (1822). 0VALLE, Alfonso de (o-val'-yeh), Chilian clergyman, born in Santiago, Chili, in 1601; died in Lima, Peru, 11 March, 1651. He belonged to a noble faro-. fly and abandoned brilliant prospects to become a Jesuit. After teaching philosophy for some time, he was made director of the novitiate of Santiago. He was next raised to the rank of procurator of his order throughout Chili, and was appointed deputy to the general congregation of Jesuits held in Rome in 1640. Several priests, attracted by his gentle manners, followed him to Chili from Europe. He stationed them at various points in Peru where pastors were wanted. He then devoted himself so zealously to his missionary duties that his health failed rapidly. His principal works are "Epistola ad Praepositum Generalem Societatis Jesu qua stature in Provincia Chilensis exponit" (Madrid, 1642, in fol.); "Historica relacion del Reyno de Chile, y de las misiones, y ministerios que ejercita en el la compa ilia de Jesus " (Rome, 1646, in fol., with maps and plates). An Italian translation appeared in 1646 (Rome, in 4to). This history of Chili is very rare and much sought after. It was translated into English and was published in the collection of " Travels" edited by Ownsham and John Churchill (London, 1704, 4 vol. in fol. ; also London, 1732, 1744-'6).
