Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 10.djvu/161

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.
LEFT
133
RIGHT

UPOLTJ 133 UPTON the escape of carbon dioxide from a vent or vents in a valley surrounded by vol- canoes. It has been seen growing with other trees in forests, and in 1844 was introduced into foreign hothouses with no deleterious effect. UPOLTJ, one of the richest and most beautiful of the islands of the Pacific, belongs to the Samoan group, Iving about 60 miles W. of Tutuila. It is 140 miles in circumference, and has about 16,000 inhabitants. The island has been a mission station for many years. It was awarded to Great Britain by the Treaty of Versailles. Many of the in- habitants are Christians. The chief harbor is Apia. Coffee and cotton are cultivated. The principal article of ex- port is cocoanut oil. UPPER SENEGAL AND NIGER, a French colonial possession in west Af- rica, formed in 1904 from the territories of Senegal and the Niger, acquired in 1893. It extends from the southern boundaries of Algeria to the frontiers of Dahomey, Togoland, the Gold Coast and the Ivory Coast, with the military colony of the Niger to eastward and Mauritania, the Faleme river and French Guinea to the westward. It is over half a million square miles in area, the character of the country being largely rolling plateaus, capable of being extensively developed agriculturally. It is watered by about two-thirds of the Niger. The popula- tion is about 5,600,000, of which 1,300 only are white. UPSALA, the historic center of ancient Sweden, the principal and last strong- hold of heathenism in that country, and still one of the most important towns in Sweden, stands on a little stream that runs down to Lake Malar, 41 miles N. by W. of Stockholm. Its existing impor- tance is due to its being the seat of the primate, the only archbishop of the Swedish church, and of the principal university. The cathedral, built of brick in the Gothic style was founded in 1289, completed in 1435, partly burned down in 1702, and only partly restored since that disaster. It contains the tomb of Lin- naeus, and those of Gustavus Vasa and some other Swedish kings. The university, founded in 1477, though new buildings were erected in 1877, is attended by 1,500 students, and possesses a library (1620) of over 400,000 volumes and 10,000 MSS., an observatory, botanical garden, and various scientific collections. In the older town, around which on the E. and N. new suburbs have been built, there stands the castle of Gustavus Vasa (1548). Pop. about 27,500. About 3 miles to the N. E. lies Old Upsala, where are three vast tumuli of the ancient legendary kings; and about 4 miles to the S. E. are the Mora stones, on which the old kings used to take the oath of good governance. UPSHUR, ABEL PARKER, an Amer- ican statesman; born in Northampton CO., Va., June 17, 1790; was admitted to the bar in 1810; practiced at Richmond, Va., till 1824; became a member of the legislature in 1825; judge of the General Court of Virginia in 1826; delegate to the convention to revise the State consti- tution in 1829 ; and after the reorganiza- tion of the judicial system under that instrument was again elected judge of the same court. This position he con- tinued to hold till 1841, when he was ap- pointed Secretary of the Navy by Presi- dent Tyler. Two years later, on the resignation of Daniel Webster, he was appointed Secretary of State. Early in 1844 he was on the United States Steam- er "Princeton," on the Potomac river, in company with the President and other members of the cabinet, to witness ex- periments with a large wrought-iron gun which burst, and mortally wounded him together with several others. He died near Washington, D. C, Feb. 28, 1844. UPTON, EMORY, an American mili- tary officer; born in Batavia, N. Y.; Aug. 27, 1839; was graduated at the United States Militai*y Academy in May, 1861, and was commissioned 2d lieu- tenant in the 4th artillery; and a few days later was promoted 1st lieutenant of the 5th artillery. He participated in the battle of Bull Run and in the Pen- insula Campaign early in 1862. In Octo- ber of that year he was commissioned colonel of the 121st New York Volun- teers. He distinguished himself at the battle of Rappahannock Station, Va., in November, 1863, and especially at Spott- sylvania, where he was wounded while leading the 12 attacking regiments of his corps. For this gallantry in the latter action he was promoted Brigadier-Gen- eral of volunteers and brevetted lieuten- ant-colonel, U. S. A. He later partici- pated in the Shenandoah Campaign, and won distinction at Winchester, Va., for which he was brevetted Major-General of volunteers. In March, 1865, he was brevetted Major-General, U. S. A., was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel, U. S. A., in July, 1866. He originated a system of military tactics which was adopted by the Government in 1867; was superin- tendent of the United States Military Academy in 1870-1875; and was promoted colonel, U. S. A., in 1880, and was as- signed to the 4th artillery in San Fran- cisco, Cal. His publications include: "A