William North
| William North | |
|---|---|
 | |
| United States Senator from New York | |
|
In office May 5, 1798 – August 17, 1798 | |
| Preceded by | John Sloss Hobart |
| Succeeded by | James Watson |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
1755 Pemaquid, Maine |
| Died |
January 3, 1836 (aged 80–81) New York City |
| Political party | Federalist |
| Spouse(s) | Mary Duane |
| Relations |
James Duane (father-in-law) Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben (adopted father) |
| Children | 6 |
| Profession | Soldier, Statesman |
William North (1755 – January 3, 1836) was an American soldier and politician.
Early life
He was the son of John North, who commanded Fort Frederick in 1751, and Fort St. George in Thomaston, Maine, in 1758. He moved with his mother, Elizabeth North, to Boston, Massachusetts.
Career
Military career
He entered the Continental Army in 1775, and served under Benedict Arnold in the unfortunate expedition to Canada in that year. He was appointed in May 1777 as captain in Henry Jackson's 16th Massachusetts Regiment, with which he participated in the Battle of Monmouth. In 1778 he met Baron Steuben, and the following year was appointed his aide-de-camp, and greatly assisted him introducing his system of discipline in the Continental Army. Later he accompanied Steuben to Virginia, and was present at the surrender of Cornwallis.
North was appointed by Act of Congress a Major in the 2d United States Regiment on October 20, 1786. After the war he settled in Duanesburg, New York, where he married.
He was appointed adjutant general of the United States Army with the rank of brigadier general on July 19, 1798,[1] but was mustered out on June 10, 1800, as tensions with France diminished. In March 1812, he was again appointed adjutant-general of the Army, but declined.
Relationship with Baron Steuben
North and a fellow aide-de-camp, Captain Benjamin Walker, were formally adopted by Steuben, and made his heirs.[2] Some historians believe that these 'extraordinary intense emotional relationships'[3] were romantic,[4] and given Steuben's reported earlier behaviour, it has been suggested it would have been out-of-character for him if they were not.[5] However, based on the limited historical record, it is impossible to prove.[6] Following Baron Steuben's death, North divided the property bequeathed to him among his military companions.
Political office
He was a member of the New York State Assembly from Albany County in 1792, 1794 and 1795, from Albany and Schenectady Counties in 1796, and from Schenectady County in 1810. He was Speaker in 1795, 1796 and 1810. North was appointed as a Federalist to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of John Sloss Hobart and served from May 5, 1798, to August 17, 1798, when James Watson was elected and qualified to succeed.
He was a member of the first Erie Canal Commission, from 1810 to 1816.
Personal life
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On October 14, 1787, North married Mary Duane (b. 1762), the daughter of James Duane (1733–1797), the 44th Mayor of New York City and U.S. District Judge for the District of New York, appointed by George Washington. Together, they had six children.
The General William North House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.[7]
General North was a member of the Society of the Cincinnati. He died in New York City, and was buried in the crypt under the Christ Episcopal Church in Duanesburg.[1]
References
- 1 2 "NORTH, William - Biographical Information". bioguide.congress.gov. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
- ↑ Kapp, Friedrich The Life of Frederick William Von Steuben, Major General in the United States Army, Mason Brothers, New York 1859,p707
- ↑ American National Biography - Volume 16 - Page 513. n.b. Contrary to many online articles, this phrase does not appear in Steuben's final Will: http://loyolanotredamelib.org/php/report05/articles/pdfs/Report35Pritchett19-26.pdf
- ↑ Benemann, William Male-Male Intimacy in Early America: Beyond Romantic Friendships Haworth Press, 2006, ISBN 1-56023-345-1
- ↑ Quinn, Michael D. Same-Sex Dynamics among Nineteenth-Century Americans, University of Illinois Press, 2001, pp179-180
- ↑ Benemann, p. 102
- ↑ National Park Service (2009-03-13). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
External links
- United States Congress. "William North (id: N000142)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- The New York Civil List compiled by Franklin Benjamin Hough (pages 40 and 294; Weed, Parsons and Co., 1858)
- Political Graveyard
- William North Historic Marker
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by James Watson |
Speaker of the New York State Assembly 1795–1796 |
Succeeded by Gulian Verplanck |
| Preceded by James W. Wilkin |
Speaker of the New York State Assembly 1810 |
Succeeded by Nathan Sanford |
| United States Senate | ||
| Preceded by John Sloss Hobart |
U.S. Senator (Class 1) from New York 1798 Served alongside: John Laurance |
Succeeded by James Watson |
| Military offices | ||
| Preceded by Edward Hand |
Adjutant General of the U.S. Army November 5, 1783 – October 28, 1787 |
Succeeded by Ebenezer Denny (acting) |
| Preceded by Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben |
Inspectors General of the U.S. Army April 17, 1784 – October 28, 1787 |
Succeeded by vacant |
| Preceded by Thomas H. Cushing (acting) |
Adjutant General of the U.S. Army July 19, 1798 – June 15, 1800 |
Succeeded by Thomas H. Cushing |
| Class 1 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 3 | ||