Matthew Lyon, “the Hampden of Congress,” was born in County Wicklow, Ireland, 1750. He came to this country in 1765; located in Connecticut, and later in Vermont; participated with Ethan Allen in the capture of Ticonderoga from the British; became adjutant of Col. Seth Warner’s regiment; served under General Montgomery in the campaign against Canada, 1775; became paymaster, with the rank of captain, in Warner’s regiment; took part in the battles of Bennington and Saratoga; became commissary-general of militia, with the rank of colonel; was a member of the State Legislature and judge of Rutland County, Vt.; member of Congress from Vermont from 1797 to 1801; cast the vote that made Thomas Jefferson president of the United States; removed to Kentucky and represented that state in Congress from 1803 to 1811. Sarah W. Alexander, who wedded Christopher R. Perry of Rhode Island, became the mother of Oliver H. Perry—best known as Commodore Perry—who defeated the British in the naval battle on Lake Erie. She was a native of Newry, Ireland, and was born in 1768. Mackenzie, in his _Life of Commodore Perry_, just mentioned, says that her friends in Ireland “Had been involved in the Irish rebellion. She herself, had felt a lively interest in the cause of liberty, and had listened with deep interest to every account she had heard of battles and skirmishes in the neighborhood. She took a pleasure in recounting ... the achievements of her countrymen and always insisted that they were the bravest people in the world. These narratives fired the mind of Oliver and created a desire in him to pursue the profession of arms.” Oliver received much of his early education from “Old Master” Kelly, an Irish school teacher at Tower Hill, R. I. From the records of the selectmen, Boston, Mass., Aug. 16, 1736: “mr. James Wimble Informs That Capt. Benedict Arnold who just arrived from Cork with Passengers, came to his House yesterday, being Lord’s day in the afternoon, bringing with him the following Persons, Viz^t. Mr. Benj^a. Ellard, Gent, and his Wife and Three Children, and a Maid Servant, Joseph Atkins, John Clark, John Seley, Thomas Morgan, James Ellard, John Ellard, Benjamin Gillam, Elizabeth Ellard and William Neal. Accordingly the Master Capt. Arnold was sent for Who appear’d and gave Information, That he came from Ireland about Twelve Weeks ago, and that he is Bound to Philadelphia with his Passengers, Who in all, are one Hundred and Twenty, Hopes to Sail in a few days, as soon as he can Recruit with Water and Provisions, and Promises That the Passengers which came ashore Yesterdy shall repair aboard again to day, The Ships name is the Prudent Hannah.”