George Izard

George Izard
2nd Governor of Arkansas Territory
In office
March 4, 1825 – November 22, 1828
President James Monroe
John Quincy Adams
Preceded by James Miller
Succeeded by John Pope
Personal details
Born (1776-10-21)October 21, 1776
Paris, France
Died November 22, 1828(1828-11-22) (aged 52)
Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S.
Resting place Mount Holly Cemetery
Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S.
34°44′17″N 92°16′44″W / 34.738056°N 92.278889°W / 34.738056; -92.278889
Nationality American
Political party Democratic-Republican Party
Spouse(s) Elizabeth Farley
Occupation Army officer, politician
Military service
Allegiance  United States of America
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service 1797–1803
1812–1815
Rank Major-General
Battles/wars War of 1812

George Izard (October 21, 1776 – November 22, 1828) was the second Governor of Arkansas Territory and a Major-General in the United States Army during the War of 1812.

Early life

Izard was born in Paris as the son of Ralph Izard who was a delegate to the Continental Congress and United States Senator from South Carolina, and Alice DeLancey, niece of New York Governor James DeLancey and a descendant of Stephanus Van Cortlandt and Gertrude Schuyler. He graduated from the College of Philadelphia (now the University of Pennsylvania) in 1792. He attended military academies in England and Germany and received military engineering instruction in France.

Military career

Izard returned to the United States in November 1797, and received a commission as Lieutenant in the US Army Corps of Engineers. He was ordered by Secretary of War James McHenry to oversee the construction of Castle Pinckney in South Carolina.[1]

In January 1800, Izard became aide-de-camp to Army commander Alexander Hamilton. A few months later he was invited by William Loughton Smith, Minister Plenipotentiary to Portugal, to serve as his secretary, a position he accepted. He left Portugal the next year and returned to the United States. He officially resigned his army commission in June 1803.

In March 1812, Izard was appointed as Colonel of the newly organised 2nd Artillery Regiment. He was promoted to Brigadier General a year later, and served as Wade Hampton's second in command until his resignation, when Izard succeeded him. Promoted to Major General in January 1814, he was in charge of the Northern Army protecting Lake Champlain, until ordered to reinforce the Army of Niagara. He was discharged in June 1815.[2]

Political career

Izard was appointed Governor of Arkansas Territory in March 1825, and served until his death in 1828.[3]

Death

Izard died of complications of gout in Little Rock, Arkansas. Izard was originally buried near the Peabody School in Little Rock. After the historic Mount Holly Cemetery was established, Izard's remains were moved to the Mount Holly Cemetery in Little Rock in 1843.[4][5]

Legacy and memory

Izard County, Arkansas is named in his honor.[6][7] General Izard's original artillery unit still exists as the 1st Battalion of the 3rd Air Defense Artillery Regiment.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Governor George Izard Day". State of Arkansas. Retrieved August 9, 2012.
  2. ↑ Historical Register and Dictionary of the US Army
  3. ↑ "Governor George Izard Day". State of Arkansas. Retrieved August 10, 2012.
  4. ↑ "George Izard". Find A Grave. Retrieved August 9, 2012.
  5. ↑ "George Izard (1776–1828)". The Central Arkansas Library System. Retrieved August 9, 2012.
  6. ↑ "Profile for Izard County, Arkansas, AR". ePodunk. Retrieved August 10, 2012.
  7. ↑ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 167.
Political offices
Preceded by
James Miller		 Governor of Arkansas Territory
1825–1828 		Succeeded by
John Pope
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