That year another important turning point in MacDowell's life was reached. Accepting the chair of music in the then newly-created music department at Columbia University, Mac Dowell plunged into teaching with such zeal and energy— devoting almost all his time and vital ity to his arduous task — that eight years of it (1896-1904) was enough to undermine his health beyond repair. In 1905, one year after MacDowell had resigned his Columbia pro fessorship (owing to a disagreement with the faculty as to the proper place of music in the college curriculum), alarming symptoms of a mental disorder appeared, which soon cul minated in hopeless insanity. In this sad state MacDowell lingered till 23 Jan. 1908, when he died in New York, in his 47th year.
The list of MacDowell's compositions is a long one. His works extant (the composer himself, in a moment of ruthless self-criticism, destroyed a number of his compositions) in clude two suites for orchestra (the (Indian Suites) Nos. 1 and 2), which are his most pre tentious and 'best-known orchestral composi tions; two concertos for piano and orchestra, which rank among the best of their kind; four sonatas for piano (the
As may be inferred from his musical titles, MacDowell is a romantic composer. His music is program music of the poetic, not the descrip tive, kind; for MacDowell does not delineate objects, but rather the moods aroused by them. A pupil and disciple of Raff, MacDowell fre quently gives his music the woodland flavor. Such titles as (Forest
McDOWELL, Ephraim (uFiermat os
American surgeon: b. Rock bridge County, Va., 11 Nov. 1771; d. Danville, Ky., 20 June 1830. He studied medicine at Staunton, Va., and at the University of Edin burgh, then the most famous medical institution in the world. He established himself in prac tice at Danville, Ky., and became known throughout the Southern and Western States as the best surgeon in his part of the country. In 1809 he performed the hitherto unknown operation of extirpation of the ovary with com plete success, and twice repeated the feat be fore he made an official report of the cases in 1816. His delay in reporting the first case and the seeming impossibility of the performance subjected him to considerable criticism in high quarters both at home and abroad. However, the fact of the success of the operation, sev eral times repeated, is fully substantiated and the method he conceived and carried out has been but little modified, with the exception of asepsis and the use of anaesthetics. In lithotomy he had operated 22 times before 1828 without a fatality. Author of a report of his most fa mous cases in the Eclectic Repertory and
lytic Review (1817). Consult Gross, S. D.,
of Ovariotomy) (1853) ; Jackson, J. B.,
McDOWELL, Irvin, American soldier: b.
near Columbus, Ohio, 15 Oct. 1818; d. San Francisco, Cal., 5 May 1885. He studied at the College de Troyes, France, and was gradu ated at West Point in 1838. During the Cana dian troubles he was stationed on the Niagara and on the Maine frontiers, and in 1841 served at West Point as assistant instructor in tactics, becoming adjutant in 1845. In 1845 he went to Mexico as aide-de-camp to General Wood and for gallant conduct at Buena Vista in 1847 was promoted brevet captain, shortly afterward attaining the rank of assistant adjutant-general. Subsequently he was stationed at the War De partment in Washington and in 1856 was raised to the rank of brevet major. He was on Gen eral Wood's staff at the outbreak of the Civil War and assisted in inspecting and organizing the volunteer troops at Washington. In May 1861 he was made brigadier-general of the volunteers and given command of the Army of the Potomac. Constrained by the impatience of the North, McDowell moved in July to meet the enemy and despite his carefully laid plan met a disastrous defeat at Bull Run, 21 Tuly 1861, owing to the imperfect organization of his raw recruits. Shortly after McClellan was given command of the army and McDowell was retained at the head of one of its divisions. In 1862 he was promoted major-general of volunteers and placed in command of the First corps, which became the Army of the Rappa hannock, stationed to guard Washington. In August 1862 he received command of the Third corps of the Army of Virginia and fought under General Pope at the battles of Cedar Mountain, Rappahannock Station and the sec ond battle of Bull Run, where he performed especially good service. He was removed from the field in September 1862. Considering this action of the War Department a direct reflection upon his military services, he asked for an investigation, the result of which was favor able to him. From May to July 1863 he was president of a board appointed to investigate alleged cotton frauds, and during the following 10 months presided over the board for retiring disabled officers. In July 1864 he was placed in command of the Department of the Pacific Coast, and in March 1865 was made brevet major-general in recognition of his gallant services at 'Cedar Mountain. In 1872 he suc ceeded General Meade as major-general in the regular army and was in command of various military departments until 1882, when he was retired. The last years of his life were spent in California.
McDOWELL, James, American states man: b. in Rockbridge County, Va., 1796: d. 1851. He was graduated at Princeton in 1817; in 1831 was elected to the Virginia legislature; was governor of that State, 1842-44, and from 1847 to 1851 represented it in Congress. He favored the gradual abolition of slavery, al though advocating the claim of State rights. As orator and debater in Congress he bore a prominent part in the proceedings of that body leading up to the Compromise of 1850.
McDOWELL, William Fraser, American Methodist Episcopal bishop: b. Millersburgh, Ohio, 4 Feb. 1858. He was educated at the Ohio Wesleyan and Boston universities and was ordained in the Methodist ministry in 1882. He held pastorates at Lodi, Oberlin and Tiffin, Ohio, and in 1890-99 he was chancellor of the Univer sity of Denver. He was corresponding secretary of the board of education of the Methodist Church in 1899-1904 and was elected bishop in 1904. He was Cole lecturer at Vanderbilt Uni versity in 1910, has served as international com missioner of the Y. M. C. A. since 1899 and since 1906 has been president of the board of trustees of Northwestern University. He made an official tour of India, China, Japan and the Philippines in 1910-11. Author of 'In the School of Christ> (1910); 'A Man's Religion' (1913) ; 'Good Ministers of Jesus) (1917).