HIGGINSON, Francis, English clergyman in colonial America: b. 1587; d. Salem, Mass., 6 Aug. 1630. He was educated at Cambridge, England, and subsequently became rector of a parish in Leicester, but becoming gradually a Non-Conformist, was deprived of his benefice, and was employed among his former parish ioners as a lecturer. While apprehending a summons to appear before the High Commis sion Court, he received an invitation from the Massachusetts Company to proceed to their colony, which he accepted. He embarked in May 1629, and it is related by Cotton Mather that as the ship was passing Land's End, he called the passengers about him and exclaimed: °We will not say, as the Separatists were wont to say at their leaving of England, 'Farewell, Babylon; farewell, Rome!' but we will say, Farewell, dear England! farewell, the church of God in England, and all the Christian friends there. We do not go to New England as Sep aratists, though we cannot but separate from the corruptions of it. But we go to practise the positive part of church reformation, and propagate the gospel jn America.° He arrived at Salem 29 June, and on 20 July was chosen teacher of the congregation established there. Subsequently Higginson drew up °a confession of faith and church covenant according to Scripture," which on 6 August was assented to by 30 persons, who associated themselves as a church. He wrote 'New England's Planta tions, or a Short and True Description of the Commodities and Discommodities of the Coun try' (1630), and an account of his voyage, printed in Young's 'Chronicles of the First Planters' (1846). Consult Higginson, T. W., 'Life of Francis Higginson' (1891).
HItIGINSON, Francis John, American naval officer: b. Boston, 19 July 1843. In 1861 he was graduated at the United States Naval Academy; was promoted through the various grades, becoming rear-admiral on 3 March 1899.
In 1861-62 he served on the Colorado in the West Gulf blockading squadron; was wounded at Pensacola Harbor, and took part in the bom bardments and passage of Forts Jackson and Saint Philip. He was present at the engage ments with the Chalmette batteries and at New Orleans. He served on the Vixen in 1862 and on the Powhatan in 1863-64. Becoming at tached to the South Atlantic blockading squadron he participated in the bombardment of Fort Sumter and was on board the Houso tonic when she was blown up by a torpedo oil Charleston. After the war for 30 years he served all over the world in various squadrons and in various capacities at the naval stations at home. In 1897-98 he commanded the Mas sachusetts and was advanced three numbers in rank for eminent and conspicuous conduct in battle during the Spanish-American War. In 1901-03 he was commander-in-thief of the North Atlantic fleet and from 1903 to 1905 commandant of the Washington navy yard. He was retired 19 July 1905.
HIGGINSONenry Lee, American Y banker: .b. New 18 Nov. 1834. He was educated at Harvard, studied music abroad and served in the Federal army during the Civil War and was brevetted lieutenant-colonel. He has been long connected with the Boston bank ing and brokerage firm of Lee-Higginion & Co., and has contributed large amounts toward the organization and support of the Boston Sym phony Orchestra. He was elected a Fellow of the Harvard Corporation in 1893. He is a member of the Massachusetts Historical So ciety, and the American Academy of Political and Social Science. His charitable benefac tions have been numerous and his activity in the field of social service has earned for him the title of "Boston's first citizen?'