AUSTIN, Jonathan Loring, patriot, born in Boston, 2 January 1748; died there, 10 May 1826. He was graduated at Harvard College in 1766, and became a merchant in Portsmouth, New Hampshire When Lang-den's regiment was raised he became its major, and subsequently was aide to General Sullivan. He was secretary to the Massachusetts board of war until October 1777, and was sent to France with dispatches to Dr. Franklin announcing the defeat of Burgoyne and asking for clothing and stores for the army. He remained with Dr. Franklin as his private secretary, being sent as his agent to London. In May 1"779, he arrived in Philadelphia with dispatches from the commissioners to congress. He was sent to Europe again in January 1780, to negotiate a loan for the state of Massachusetts, and was captured on the way, but was set free in England. He failed to secure the loan, and returned in the autumn of 1781. In 1786 he delivered the 4th of July oration in Boston. He was a state senator for several terms, and elected state treasurer, and subsequently secretary of state.