MIEL

Posted by Cathy Gowdy on Tuesday, March 19, 2013 at 06:46:34 :

The Marin Journal
Thursday, November 20, 1902
page 1

Death of Former San Rafael Pioneer

News was received last week of the death in Philadelphia of Rev. CHARLES F. MIEL, D.D. He was born in France in 1816 and was for many years a prominent figure in California. He came to the United States in 1853 with letters from Victor Hugo, and for several years filled the chair of French literature in Harvard University. During the Civil War he was sent by secretary William H. Seward on two confidential missions to France, and it was through these that France declined to follow England in acknowledging the Confederacy as a belligerent power.

Dr. Miel came to California in the early sixties, and to San Rafael about 1867 and started the first girls academy in a two story building on the knoll back of the present Mr. Tamalpais Military Academy building which was afterwards moved to the present academy site, made a three story building and converted into Mt. Tamalpais Hotel.