Dr. Kimball has been largely identified with the mineral development of Bedford County, Pa., and at the time of his appointment as Director of the Mints, was President of the Everett Iron Company, whose blast furnace, built in 1883-84, is one of the largest and finest in this country. As a scientist he is a contributor to various scientific journals at home and abroad, and among others the _American Journal of Science_, published at New Haven. Several of his papers have appeared in the proceedings of the American Institute of Mining Engineers, of which he has been Vice President. Dr. Kimball has traveled extensively in the United States, Mexico, and the West Indies, in prosecuting his professional practice, and as a man of scientific accomplishments and of affairs, bears a deservedly high reputation. Dr. Kimball comes of Revolutionary stock. His paternal great-grandfather, William Russell, of Boston, was associated with the Sons of Liberty, and the leaders in public affairs in the times that tried men’s souls. He was present, disguised as an Indian, and assisted in the famous Tea Party in Boston harbor on the memorable 16th of December, 1773. Later, Mr. Russell was adjutant of the Massachusetts Artillery, raised for the defense of Boston, and which served in the Rhode Island campaign of 1777-78. Still later, while serving as Secretary to Commander John Manley, of the U. S. war vessel Jason, Russell was captured by the British frigate Surprise, and confined in Mill prison till June 24, 1782, when he was exchanged. But so sturdy a patriot could not rest unemployed, and twenty days after his liberation, found him again in the naval service. He was again made prisoner by the British, in November following, and consigned to the notorious British prison ship, Jersey, lying off New York. An anecdote is related by Mr. James Kimball, father of the subject of this sketch, in a memoir on the Tea Party in Boston harbor furnished the Essex Institute Historical collections (1874), which illustrates the temper of Mr. Russell as a patriot. Returning to his home after the destruction of the tea, he took off his shoes, and carefully dusted them over the fire; he then took the tea canister and emptied its contents. Next morning he had printed on one side of the canister, “Coffee,” and on the other, “No Tea.” This was the brief decree of banishment promulgated by the Tea Destroyers, and the prohibited luxury disappeared from their tables. HON. JOHN JAY KNOX. Late Comptroller of the Currency, now President of the National Bank of the Republic, New York City, we are indebted to _The Financier, August, 1885_, for the following biographical sketch: