John Armstrong, Jr.

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John Armstrong, Jr. (November 25, 1758 - April 1, 1843) was an American soldier and statesman who was a delegate to the Continental Congress, U.S. Senator from New York, and Secretary of War.

John Jr. was the son of Dr. John Armstrong and Rebecca (Lyon) Armstrong and was born in Carlisle, Pennsylvania in 1758. After early education in Carlisle he studied at the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University). He broke off his studies in Princeton in 1775 to return to Pennsylvania and join the fight in the Revolutionary War.

Contents

1 Revolutionary War

1.1 Newburgh Letters

2 After the revolution
3 Later life
4 Further reading
5 External links

Revolutionary War

The Young Armstrong joined a Pennsylvania militia regiment, but the following year became an aide to General Hugh Mercer in the Continental Army. In this role, he carried to wounded and dying General Mercer from the field at the Battle of Princeton. After the general died on January 12, 1777, Armstrong became an aide to General Horatio Gates. He stayed with Gates through the Battle of Saratoga then resigned due to problems with his health. In 1782 Gates asked him to return. Armstong joined General Gates' staff as an aide with the rank of Major which he held through the rest of the war.

Newburgh Letters

While in camp with Gates at Newburgh, New York, Armstrong became involved in the Newburgh Conspiracy. He is generally acknowledged as the author of the two anonymous letters directed at the officers in the camp. The first (dated March 10, 1783) was titled An Address to the Officers and called for a meeting to discuss back pay and other grievances with the Congress and form a plan of action. After General Washington ordered the meeting canceled, and called for a milder meeting on March 15th, a second address appeared which claimed that this showed that Washington supported their actions.

Washington successfully defused this protest without a mutiny. While some of Armstrong's later correspondence acknowledged his role, there was never any official action that connected him with the anonymous letters.

After the revolution

Later in 1783 Armstrong returned home to Carlisle. He was named the Adjutant General of Pennsylvania's militia and also served as Secretary of State for Pennsylvania under Presidents Dickinson and Franklin. In 1787 and 1788 he was sent as a delegate for Pennsylvania to the Continental Congress. The Congress offered to make him chief justice of the Northwest Territory. He declined this, as well as all other public offices for the next dozen years.

In 1789 Armstrong married Alida Livingston of the New York political family, and the sister of Robert Livingston. He moved to New York and took up life as a gentleman farmer on a farm purchased from her family in Dutchess County.

Armstrong resumed public life in August of 1800 when John Laurance resigned from the United States Senate. Placed on the ballot as a Jefferson Republican he was elected to term ending in 1802. That year he was re-elected for a full term, but served only until February 5, 1802 when he resigned.

Armstrong was returned to the Senate in 1804 after Theodorus Bailey resigned, but served only four months before President Jefferson named him minister to France. He served in that post until 1810, and also represented the United States at the court of Spain in 1806.

When the War of 1812 broke out, Armstrong was called to military service. He was commissioned as a Brigadier General, and placed in charge of the defenses for the port of New York. Then in 1813 President Madison named him Secretary of War. He made a number of valuable changes to the armed forces, but was forced to resign in September of 1814 after he was blamed for the Burning of Washington in August.

Later life

Armstrong returned to his farm and resumed a quiet life. He published a number of histores, biographies, and some woks on agriculture. He died at home in Red Hook, New York in 1843 and is buried in the cemetery in Rhinebeck.

Armstrong's farm in Dutchess County is still operating (and owned by the Livingston family). The home he completed in 1811 has a New York state educational marker on County Road 103.

Brother of Congressman James Armstrong

External links

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