104 THE ISLAND OF NANTUCKET. 



desired to make him Earl of Magdalen; but the minis- 

 ters objected, on the ground of his strong attachment 

 to his native country, and especially cited the fact of 

 his fitting out a vessel with Yankee lads from his Lan- 

 casterian school at Nantucket, to make master mari- 

 ners of them, which could not be viewed in England 

 with favor. So it may, in truth, be said that the Coffin 

 School at Nantucket cost the admiral an earldom, and 

 came near sacrificing his baronetcy." 



There is a fine oil painting of this distinguished gen- 

 tleman hanging on the wall of the school which takes 

 his name. It was painted by Sir William Beechey, 

 and is a fine work of art. 



Ferdinand C. Ewer, D. D. 



For facts in relation to the life of the distinguished 

 rector of St. Ignatius's Church, in New York, the com- 

 piler is indebted to that gentleman and also to Mr. 

 Charles H. Starbuck. 



Ferdinand C. Ewer was born at Nantucket, May 22, 

 1826; baptized in Trinity Church in 1843; graduated 

 at Harvard College in the class of 1848; and in April, 

 1849, went to California. From the time of his arri- 

 val to his ordination to the ministry, he was in the 

 editorial profession, having charge of a daily paper, 

 and editing at the same time a monthly literary maga- 

 zine. Meantime he studied for the minis-try, and was 

 ordained by Bishop Kip, April 5, 1857, as deacon, and 

 became his assistant. On the resignation of the bishop 

 as rector, in December, Mr. Ewer was elected to fill 

 his place, and on the 17th of January following re- 

 ceived priest's orders. In I860, by reason of ill health, 



