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Felix Jay was born in Berlin, Germany on 29 September 1905. After receiving a doctorate in Roman and modern law from the University of Leipzig, he accepted a position as a public relations lawyer in London. He joined the British Army in 1941 and served until 1953. His last appointment at the rank of major was Assistant Commandant, Army College, Aldershot.

After retiring from the military, Dr. Jay earned a BA degree in languages and history from the University of London in 1953. In that same year, he accepted a position in adult education at the University of Southampton serving first as tutor and subsequently as senior lecturer until 1970.

In 1972, Dr. Jay played an instrumental role in the founding of the American institution, Richmond College, in London. He served as its first comptroller and later as director of studies. Between 1974 and 1981, Dr. Jay moved on to the position of director of admissions for the American Institute of Foreign Studies. Frequent and prolonged stays in Latin American countries during those years supported Dr. Jay's interest in the history of Mesoamerican and South American countries. After retiring in 1981, Dr. Jay devoted himself to research and writing on the Indian and Spanish colonial Latin American past.

In 1997, Dr. Jay published Sin, crimes, and retribution in early Latin America: a translation and critique of sources - Lope de Aguirre, Francisco de Carvajal, Juan Rodríguez Freyle. Two years later, he published Historia eclesisatica indiana: a Franciscan's view of the Spanish conquest of Mexico, which includes a translation of the writings of Geronimo de Mendieta and others. Both titles were published by Edwin Mellen Press.

Dr. Jay resides in Dorset, England.

Aaron Thomas was born in Wigmore, Herefordshire, England, on January 18, 1762. According the Wigmore parish records, he was christened a day later. His parents, Aaron Thomas and Mary Pinches, had five other children: John Thomas (christened April 7, 1759), Mary Thomas (c. April 7, 1760), William Thomas (c. March 8, 1765), Moses Thomas (c. February 6, 1768) and Thomas Thomas (c. February 13, 1764) who died in infancy. According to Jean M. Murray in The Newfoundland Journal of Aaron Thomas, John was a successful London silversmith. He married Mary Lane of Reading on June 17, 1786 and had five children: Robert, a Royal Navy Commander, Thomas Lane, John William, and Francis Lewis. The name of the fifth child is unknown. John W. and Francis succeeded their father in the silversmith business. Mary Thomas married a Mr. Brunton and had at least one son. Brother William Thomas was a merchant, married to Sarah Price, and had at least one son, the Reverend Aaron Thomas. Finally, Moses, the youngest brother of Aaron Thomas, was a London rate payer. Aaron’s father was a tenant farmer in Wigmore, and appears to have been an influential member of the community, serving as a church warden on two separate occasions. In his journal, young Aaron fondly recalls his childhood at the Bury House in spite of his father’s death, which occurred when Aaron was five or six years old. Aaron Thomas, Sr. most likely died in 1767 or 1768, as his name ceases to appear on the Church Loan Rates by 1768. Mary Thomas, the mother of Aaron Thomas, Jr., remarried on April 24, 1771 to William Beaman (Beavan) at St. Peter’s Church, Hereford, Herefordshire.

There is no information regarding Aaron Thomas’ formal education. From his journal entries one may assume some formal training, as he demonstrates a command of the English and Portuguese languages and expresses himself in a thoughtful manner. The only mention of education noted within the journal occurs as Thomas laments the fact that he received no formal training in navigation, as "had I understood Navigation, my name at this would a been in a more conspicious situation." (p. 343)

There is little information on Thomas’ life prior to his naval service. In 1793 he traveled to Chatham to enter the Royal Navy. Unlike many of his contemporaries who were pressed into service, Thomas joined voluntarily. His reasons for enlisting are uncertain; from frequent journal entries regarding the dismal but improving state of his finances, one might assume Thomas left home in search of the fortune that could be gained from prize money found cruising coastal waters. There is some indication that he was in debt to his brother John, and Thomas may have viewed the navy as an honorable and patriotic way of repaying this debt. His first ship was HMS Suffolk, a 74 gun warship. On March 21, 1794, Thomas left the Suffolk and subsequently joined the crew of HMS Boston, where he served until March 20, 1797. While aboard the Boston, he journeyed as part of a convoy to Newfoundland, as chronicled in his earlier journal. Upon leaving the Boston, Thomas joined the crew of HMS Concord, and traveled to the West Indies, arriving on September 7, 1797. He relished travel, and recalls in his journal travels to such distant places as Germany, Denmark, Italy, Istira, Dalmitia, Albania, Ragusa, Carnolia, Suabia, Romania, Spain, and Portugal, as well as to the Americas (p. 29).

According to the Quarter Bill of the Lapwing, which Thomas penned on page two hundred and seventy-seven of the journal, his position on the frigate was that of eleventh gunner, although his descriptions of life onboard demonstrate that he had an additional responsibility of selling slops (ready-made clothing and other goods) to shipmates.

Thomas was a lifelong bachelor, although he notes on page forty that "there cannot be a continual happy state in this life, unless a person is marryed," and mentions an opportunity for matrimony on St. Kitts. Thomas did, however, have a circle of family and acquaintances with whom he corresponded. Included in this group were his brother William, a merchant; his brother John, a successful London silversmith; his mother, Mrs. Beaman of Wigmore; and his friend W[alter]. W., who had served with Thomas on HMS Boston and of whom he wrote:

"in June 1796 I had resolved to part with my Servant when in the Boston, and had resolved to tell the Captain my reasons for parting with him was, "That he is composed of materials from the Mule, Hound and Fox. --From the Hound because he will Yawl cry if looked at. --From the Fox, because he has his slyness without his dishonesty. And from a Mule, because if spoken to, he will stand sullenly still, and appear like a crabb apple, floating in a Bucket of Vinegar, but I continued him in my service till April 1797, when I left the Ship, and so altered is my mind in a few months concerning this person W W. That he now stands in my will."

Whether or not Thomas was able to achieve happiness in the navy is debatable. His journal entries indicate that he was content with his chosen career, yet on page forty-one he wrote "I am realy Malidito de Navio, Io often pensee de leaving it, et retiring to della questa Isola a Philadelphia or Quebec, untill a Guerra a finito. . ." Thomas did not relish the hot and humid weather of the West Indies, and wrote that the "West Indias is to hott and sickly for me," (p. 148) yet he continued to maintain the good health that he had enjoyed throughout his life. On page twenty-nine, he noted "I have lived to be 36 years of age, and never had a Doctors Bill to pay but once. . . My body as I said, is free from (through God’s great mercy) considerable ailments; but yet I will know, that I have a Soul, that requires Surgeons skill continually, to keep togather." He looked forward to returning to his native land, but the attraction of lucrative prizes kept him in the West Indias. On Friday, September 7, 1799, he was at Nevis Road, St. Kitts, and wrote "This evening I was taken very ill. – remained on board untill the 22 Oct’r when I was oblidged to go to Sick Quarter ashore at Basseterre, St. Kitts." Thomas died between October 22, 1799 and October 26, 1799, the date of a final journal entry consisting of a list of the personal effects as "stated in the will of Aaron Thomas."

Alvan Stewart was born in South Granville, New York, September 1, 1790. From the age of five he lived on a farm in Westford, Vermont, and attended district schools in the county. He entered the University of Vermont in 1809, leaving in 1812 to take a teaching position in Canada. He was arrested in Canada as a spy after the outbreak of war and was for a time held as a prisoner. Upon his release he returned to the States, continuing to teach and beginning the study of law in Cherry Valley, New York. After a few years in Kentucky, Stewart returned to Cherry Valley where he acquired the reputation as a brilliant lawyer. In 1832, after travels abroad which are detailed in these diary pages, Stewart moved with his family to Utica, where he continued to practice law, but devoted a great deal of time to temperance and anti-slavery causes. In 1835 he formed and became president of the New York Anti-Slavery Society where he raised money, organized meetings, and held public debates. Several times his planned affairs were broken up by angry mobs. Stewart argued that slavery was in violation with the Constitution and should be abolished. After a brief attempt at a political career, receiving only a few hundred votes for New York governor, Stewart retired to a more private life, though remaining a member of the New York Anti-Slavery Society. Stewart died in New York City, May 1, 1849.

Clark Daniel Stearns (b. 1870) was born in now Miami-Dade County, Fla. Stearns was a U.S. Navy officer, and later Governor of American Samoa. In 1921, he was relieved of duty as commander of the U.S. Navy ship Michigan, for allowing the men under his command to organize committees. In 1923, he was chief of emergency relief work following an earthquake in Japan, and received a medal from the Japanese Red Cross; after the Pearl Harbor attack in 1941, he sent the medal back to Japan. His burial location is unknown.

The Center for Theoretical Studies was established in 1965. The purpose of the Center was to provide a forum for studies in theoretical physics and related fields to be carried out by short term visitors, postdoctoral researchers, long term members of the Center, and various faculty of the University.