Du Pont, Samuel

FRANCIS, an American rear-admiral, B. at Bergen Point, N. J., 1803. He was commi ioned a midshipman when 12 years old. During the Mexican war, being then a commander, he saw much active and gallant service on the California coast. In 1856 he was made a captain, and the following year was placed in command of the steam-frigate Minnesota, which conveyed Mr. Reed, the American minister, to China. In 1862 he was put in command of the S. Atlantic blockading squadron. He sailed from Fortre Monroe, Oct. 29, in his flag-ship the Wabash, accompanied by a fleet of 50 sail; reached Port Royal Nov. 5, and two days after attacked two strong forts, on Hilton Head and Bay Point, which were evacuated after a severe engagement of four hours. This distinguished officer was nominated rear-admiral in Aug., 1862. He has greatly contributed to the organization of the Naval School at Anna polis, and is the author of a very remarkable report on the use of floating-batteries for coast-defence. D. 1865 Dupuis, CHARLES FRANÇOIS, a French philosopher, B. near Gisors, 1742. His celebrated work, Origine de to us les cultés, ou la religion universelle, originated the scientific exploration of Egypt in the period of its occupation by Bonaparte. D. 1796. Dupuytren, GUILLAUME, BARON, ( doo - pwe'tren,) B. in Limous in, 1777. One of the most distinguished surgeons of modern times, and an eminent example of the beneficial results of the system of public competition established in France. By his industry and talents he became surgeon to the Hotel Dien at twenty-six, and profe or of surgery at thirty-three. He visited the hospital morning and evening at six o'clock, and for 12 years was never once absent; each morning he attended to 300 patients, delivered a clinical lecture. performed several operations, gave advice to some hundreds of outpatients, and then walked home to breakfast at half past ten. After this he saw his private patients, attended to the examination of medical students, performed his private operations, and at six in the evening again went the rounds of the hospital. His principal work is his memoir on artificial anus, which forms & happy application of the principles developed by John Hunter. D. po e ed a remarkably fine person and strong constitution, so as to enable him to undergo immense bodily fatigue. But he po e ed an extremely irritable temper, which made him insupportably capricious and inconsistent, often impelled him to rash and wrong acts that he would fain have recalled in his cooler moments, and ultimately destroyed his nervous system. He was a most succe ful practitioner, having left $1,500,000 to his only daughter, besides numerous endowments connected with his profe ion. D. 1835. Duquesne, ABRAHAM, MARQUIS, ( doo - kain ' ,) a cele brated French seaman, first went to sea under his father, who was in the service. He distinguished himself at so early an age, that at 17 he had the command of a ve el, in which he fought several succe ful actions with the Spaniards. In the troubles which occurred in France during the minority of Louis XIV., he was in the service of Sweden, and defeated the Danish fleet commanded by King Christian IV. Recalled to France in 1647, he got together a squadron at his own expense, and was engaged several times both with the English and Spanish. In the French war of 1672 with Holland, Louis XIV. sent him against De Ruyter, and D. defeated him in a terrible engagement near Me ina, in 1676. He afterwards gained great succe es against the pirates in the Mediterranean, and humbled the dey of Algiers. As he was a Protestant, Louis XIV. did not raise him to those high positions which his services entitled him to; and thus he never became an admiral. D. 1688. Duquesne, in Pennsylvania, a post-borough of Reserve township, Alleghany co. Duquesne, in Pennsylvania, a fort formerly occupying the site of Pittsburg, q. v. Duquoin, in Illinois , a city of Perry co., 77 miles N. of Cairo; has extensive coal mines. Pop . (1897) abt. 4,600. Dur, a . [Ger., from Lat. durus , hard, firm, vigorous.] ( Mus .) Major; in the major mode; as, C dur , that is, C major.