Patterson.] 1^-^ [Nov. IS, 



An Obituary Notice of William E. DaBois. By Robert Patterson. 

 [Bead before the American Philosopliical Society, November 18, 18S1. ) 



William Ewing DuBois was born at Doyle.stown, Pennsylvania, De- 

 cember 15, 1810. Through his father. Rev. Uriah DuBois, he was de- 

 scended from Louis DuBois, a French Huguenot of honorable extraction, 

 who emigrated to America in 1660, seeking freedom of religious worship, 

 and, in connection with others of his countrymen, formed the settle- 

 ment of New Paltz, Ulster county, New York. Through his mother, 

 Martha Patterson, daughter of Professor Robert Patterson, of the Univer- 

 sity of Pennsylvania, he inherited tlie Scotch-Irish element which has 

 exerted so marked an influence in the development of our country. 



The father of Mr. DuBois was a Presbyterian clergyman, ip charge of 

 churches in and near Doylestown, and was Principal of the Union Acad- 

 emy at that place, a classical school then and afterwards of liigh reputa- 

 tion. He was greatly respected, both as preacher and teacher. His death, 

 at a comparatively early age, left a large family, in narrow circumstances, 

 to be provided for. The kindness of friends, but above all the energy and 

 devotion of the widowed mother, lightened the weight of this calamity. 

 The subject of our notice was, at this time, but eleven years of age. His 

 education, already begun at the academy under his father, "was continued 

 there under his successor. Rev. Samuel Aaron, and for a short time at the 

 once noted school of .John Gummere, Burlington, N. J. 



The bright and studious mind of Mr. DuBois gathered every advantage 

 from his opportunities, and although his early education did not extend 

 beyond the schools named, he was well furnished in the classics and 

 mathematics and in English literature. While yet a boy he developed 

 a freedom and capacity as a writer quite remarkable ; was a frequent con- 

 tributor of articles to the county papers, and aided in conducting one of 

 them. 



His oldest brother was an eminent member of the bar, and it seemed 

 fitting that Mr. DuBois should, under his guidance, adopt the law as his 

 profession. He accordingly pursued the usual course, in the meantime 

 aiding to support himself by literary work and conve3\ancing, and was ad- 

 mitted to practice in September, 18;J2. But it was not permitted him to 

 prove whether he could attain reputation in that line. His course was 

 arrested by a fatal obstacle. Always somewhat delicate in constitution, he 

 was at this time attacked by a bronchial disorder, which adhered to him 

 through life. It so far affected his voice as to unfit him for the legal pro- 

 fession, or any other requiring him publicly to address his fellow-men. To 

 all human apprehension this was a calamity that dashed every hope of 

 eminence, at least in any intellectual field. But as we now stand at the 

 end of his career and review the steps by which he gained distinction, we 

 rather persuade ourselves that it was a providence constraining him to a 

 roiir.c oriifc in wliicli every liiiilier ([uality of his minil and ciiaracler had 



