John W. Geary
1st Mayor of San Francisco
In office May 1, 1850 – May 4, 1851
Preceded by	(none)
Succeeded by	Charles James Brenham
3rd Territorial Governor of Kansas
In office September 9, 1856 – March 20, 1857
Preceded by	Wilson Shannon
Succeeded by	Robert J. Walker
16th Governor of Pennsylvania
In office January 15, 1867 – January 21, 1873
Preceded by	Andrew Gregg Curtin
Succeeded by	John F. Hartranft
Born	December 30, 1819(1819-12-30) Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania
Died	February 8, 1873 (aged 53) Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Political party	Democrat; Republican
Spouse	Margaret Ann Logan (widowed); Mary Church Henderson
Profession	Teacher, Clerk, Land Speculator, Engineer, Soldier
Religion	Methodist

John White Geary in the Civil War

John White Geary (December 30, 1819 – February 8, 1873) was a lawyer, politician (the final alcalde and first mayor of San Francisco, governor of the Kansas Territory, and governor of Pennsylvania), and Union general in the American Civil War. The Mayor of the City and County of San Francisco is the head of the government of San Francisco, California. Charles James Brenham was Mayor of San Francisco in 1851 and from 1852 to 1853 List of governors Wilson Shannon ( February 24, 1802 - August 30, 1877) was a Democratic politician from Ohio and Kansas. Robert John Walker ( July 23, 1801 &ndash November 11, 1869) was an American economist and statesman Governors Pennsylvania was one of the original Thirteen colonies, and was admitted as a state on December 12 1787 Events 588 BC - Nebuchadrezzar II of Babylon lays siege to Jerusalem under Zedekiah 's reign Year 1867 ( MDCCCLXVII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting Events 1189 - Philip II of France and Richard I of England begin to assemble troops to wage the Third Crusade. Year 1873 ( MDCCCLXXIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Andrew Gregg Curtin ( April 22, 1817 – October 7, 1894) was a U John Frederick Hartranft (December 16 1830 October 17 1889 was the governor of Pennsylvania from 1873 to 1879 and a Union General who received the Events 1460 - Wars of the Roses: Battle of Wakefield. 1816 - The Treaty of St Year 1819 ( MDCCCXIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar in the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common year Westmoreland County is a County located in the US state of Pennsylvania. Events 421 - Constantius III becomes co- Emperor of the Western Roman Empire. Year 1873 ( MDCCCLXXIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Harrisburg is the Capital of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in the United States of America The Democratic Party is one of two major Political parties in the United States, the other being the Republican Party. An engineer is a person professionally engaged in a field of Engineering. A soldier is a general English term that refers to a member of a land component of National Armed forces. Methodism is a movement within Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations Events 1460 - Wars of the Roses: Battle of Wakefield. 1816 - The Treaty of St Year 1819 ( MDCCCXIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar in the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common year Events 421 - Constantius III becomes co- Emperor of the Western Roman Empire. Year 1873 ( MDCCCLXXIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Alcalde () or Alcalde ordinario, is the traditional Spanish municipal magistrate who had both Judicial and administrative functions The City and County of San Francisco is the fourth most populous city The Territory of Kansas was an Organized territory of the United States that existed from May 30 1854 until January 29 1861 when Kansas became the 34th The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania ( often colloquially referred to as PA (its abbreviation by natives and Northeasterners is a state located in the Northeastern The Union Army was the army that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. Causes of the war See also Origins of the American Civil War, Timeline of events leading to the American Civil War The coexistence of a slave-owning South

Early years

Geary was born in near Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania, in Westmoreland County, the son of Richard Geary, an ironmaster and schoolmaster, and Margaret White, a native of Maryland. There are also five Mount Pleasant Townships in Pennsylvania Mount Pleasant is a Borough in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania Westmoreland County is a County located in the US state of Pennsylvania. Starting at the age of 14, he attended Jefferson College in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, studying civil engineering and law, but was forced to leave before graduation due to the death of his father, whose debts he assumed. Washington & Jefferson College (W&J is a private coeducational liberal arts college located in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area in the city of Washington Canonsburg is a Borough in Washington County, Pennsylvania, 18 miles (29 km southwest of Pittsburgh. He worked at a variety of jobs, including as a surveyor and land speculator in Kentucky, earning enough to return to college and graduate in 1841. The Commonwealth of Kentucky ( is a state located in the East Central United States of America. He worked as a construction engineer for the Allegheny Portage Railroad. The Allegheny Portage Railroad was the first railroad constructed through the Allegheny Mountains in central Pennsylvania, United States. In 1843, he married Margaret Ann Logan, with whom he had several sons, but she died in 1853. Geary then married the widowed Mary Church Henderson in 1858 in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Carlisle is a borough in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, 18 miles (29 km west by southwest of Harrisburg, the State capital

Geary was active in the state militia as a teenager and when the Mexican-American War started, he enlisted in the 2nd Pennsylvania Infantry, serving as lieutenant colonel. The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary Citizens to provide defense emergency law enforcement or Paramilitary service He led the regiment heroically at Chapultepec, and was wounded five times in the process. The Battle of Chapultepec (September 1847 was a US victory over Mexican forces holding Chapultepec Castle west of Mexico City during the Mexican-American Geary was an excellent target for enemy fire: a huge man for that era, he stood six feet six inches tall, 260 pounds (118 kg) and solidly built. Altogether, he was wounded at least ten times in his military career. Geary's exploits at Belen gate earned him the rank of colonel and he returned home a war hero. Colonel ( RP ˈkɜnəl GA ˈkɜrnəl is a Military rank of a Commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every country

California politics

Moving west, Geary was appointed postmaster of San Francisco by President Polk on January 22, 1849, and in 1850, he became the city's first mayor. The City and County of San Francisco is the fourth most populous city The President of the United States is the Head of state and Head of government of the United States and is the highest political official in United States by James Knox Polk ( November 2 1795&ndashJune 15 1849 was the eleventh President of the United States, serving from March 4 1845 to March 4 1849 Events 565 - Eutychius is deposed as Patriarch of Constantinople by John Scholasticus. Year 1849 ( MDCCCXLIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common He was first the alcalde, before California became a state, and then the mayor of the city. Alcalde () or Alcalde ordinario, is the traditional Spanish municipal magistrate who had both Judicial and administrative functions He holds the record as the youngest mayor in San Francisco history. Geary returned to Pennsylvania in 1852 due to his wife's failing health. After her death, President Franklin Pierce wanted to appoint him governor of the Utah Territory, but Geary declined. Franklin Pierce (November 23 1804 &ndash October 8 1869 was an American politician and the fourteenth President of the United States, serving from 1853 to

Territorial Governor of Kansas

Geary accepted Pierce's appointment as governor of the Kansas Territory on July 31, 1856. The Territory of Kansas was an Organized territory of the United States that existed from May 30 1854 until January 29 1861 when Kansas became the 34th Events 30 BC - Battle of Alexandria: Mark Antony achieves a minor victory over Octavian 's forces but most of his army subsequently Year 1856 ( MDCCCLVI) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap year Proslavery forces opposed Geary, favoring instead either acting governor Daniel Woodson or Surveyor General John Calhoun (an Illinois politician). Daniel Woodson ( May 24, 1824 - October 5, 1894) was secretary of Kansas Territory (1854-1857 and a five-time acting governor Geary spent a month preparing for his new position and then left for the territory. While traveling up the Missouri River, his boat docked at Glasgow, Missouri, where he happened upon recently fired governor Wilson Shannon. Glasgow is a city in Howard County, Missouri, United States. It is part of the Columbia Missouri Metropolitan Area The population was 1263 Wilson Shannon ( February 24, 1802 - August 30, 1877) was a Democratic politician from Ohio and Kansas. They briefly discussed the "Bleeding Kansas" crisis and Geary had previously met with Missouri governor Sterling Price, who promised Geary that Freestaters would be allowed safe passage through Missouri. Bleeding Kansas, sometimes referred to in history as Bloody Kansas or the Border War, was a series of violent events involving Free-Staters Sterling Price ( September 20, 1809 September 29, 1867) was a lawyer politician and Militia General from the

Geary arrived at Fort Leavenworth on September 9 and went to the territorial capital at Lecompton the following day, becoming the youngest territorial governor of Kansas. Fort Leavenworth is a United States Army facility located in Leavenworth County Kansas (just north of the city of Leavenworth) in the upper northeast Events 1000 - Battle of Svolder, Viking Age. 1379 - Treaty of Neuberg, splitting the Austrian Lecompton is a city in Douglas County, Kansas, United States. He believed that his previous administrative experience in government would help bring peace to the territory, but he was unable to stop the violence. He told his first audience, "I desire to know no party, no section, no North, no South, no East, no West; nothing but Kansas and my county. "^[1] Geary disbanded the existing Kansas militia, organized a new state militia, and relied heavily on federal troops to help keep order. On October 17, he started a twenty-day tour of the territory and spoke to groups everywhere he stopped to gain their opinions. Events 539 BC - King Cyrus The Great of Persia marches into the city of Babylon, releasing the Jews from almost

Despite his efforts to be a neutral peacemaker, Geary and the proslavery legislature clashed. Geary stopped a large force of Missouri border ruffians who were heading to Lawrence to once again burn the town. Lawrence is the sixth largest city in the US State of Kansas and the County seat of Douglas County. Additionally, he vetoed a bill which would provide for an election of delegates to the Lecompton constitutional convention. This bill would have bypassed any referendum on a constitution before being submitted to the U. S. Congress for ratification. The legislature, however, overrode the veto.

Geary also angered Freestaters when he turned away $20,000 from the Vermont legislature that was intended to help the suffering from the harsh winter of 1856-57. Vermont ( is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. Geary wrote in his response, "[there is] doubtless some suffering . . . consequent upon the past disturbances and the present extremely cold weather; but probably no more than exists in other territories or in either of the states of the Union. "^[2]

Initially, Geary solidly abhorred the proposals he received from Kansas abolitionists. By the time of the 1856 presidential election, however, he had completely reversed his position and had become intimate friends with Charles Robinson and Samuel Pomeroy. Charles Robinson may refer to Charles Robinson (Canadian politician (1835&ndashc1900 physician and politician in Ontario Canada Charles Robinson Samuel Clarke Pomeroy ( January 3, 1816 &ndash August 27, 1891) was a Republican Senator from Kansas in the mid-19th century serving in Additionally, he totally distrusted the proslavery forces and in letters to President Pierce, he blamed them for the deprivations in the territory. Geary even went so far as to reject his candidacy from the Democratic party of Kansas for the U. S. Senate. Instead he worked with the freestaters to create a plan for Kansas to be admitted to the Union under the Topeka constitution as a free state, with himself as governor of a Democratic administration. Support for this plan in Congress was lacking. ^[3]

Geary soon began to fear for his personal safety after his private secretary, Dr. John Gihon, was assaulted by proslavery ruffians. Geary submitted his resignation to incoming president James Buchanan, expecting that he would be reappointed. James Buchanan Jr (April 23 1791 – June 1 1868 was the fifteenth President of the United States (1857–1861 Instead, Buchanan fired Geary on March 12 with an effective date of March 20. Events 538 - Witiges, king of the Ostrogoths ends his siege of Rome and retreats to Ravenna, leaving Events 1600 - The Linköping Bloodbath takes place on Maundy Thursday in Linköping, Sweden. In his farewell message to the territory, Geary stated that he had not sought the office and "[that it] was by no means desirable. " He added, "most of the troubles which lately agitated the territory, were occasioned by men who had no especial interest in its welfare. . . . The great body of the actual citizens are conservative, law-abiding and peace-loving men, disposed rather to make sacrifices for conciliation and consequent peace, than to insist for their entire rights should the general body thereby be caused to suffer. "^[4]

Armed with two guns, Geary left the territory during the night and returned to Washington, D.C., on March 21. Washington DC ( formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D Events 630 - Byzantine emperor Heraclius restores the True Cross to Jerusalem. Afterward, he spoke at many public meetings about the dangers in Kansas. Although he did not bring peace to the territory, Geary's administration did leave the territory more peaceful than it had been prior to his arrival. Geary returned to his Pennsylvania farm and remarried.

Civil War

At the start of the Civil War, Geary raised the 147th and 28th Pennsylvania Infantry regiments and became colonel of the latter. The Infantry is the oldest and most numerous of the Combat Arms in the Armed forces, and consists Commanding the district of the upper Potomac River, he was wounded and captured near Leesburg, Virginia, on March 8, 1862, but was immediately exchanged and returned to duty. The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid- Atlantic coast of the United States. Leesburg is a historic town in and County seat of Loudoun County, Virginia, United States of America Events 1618 - Johannes Kepler discovers the third law of planetary motion. Year 1862 was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting on Monday He was promoted to brigadier general and the command of a brigade in Nathaniel Banks's corps, which he led in the Shenandoah Valley against Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson. Brigadier General is the lowest ranking General Officer in some countries usually sitting between the ranks of Colonel and Major General. Nathaniel Prentice (or Prentiss Banks ( January 30, 1816 September 1, 1894) was an American Politician and Soldier Background In the spring of 1862 "Southern morale. was at its nadir" and "prospects for the Confederacy's survival seemed bleak Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson (January 21 1824 &ndash May 10 1863 was a Confederate general during the American Civil War, and probably the His brigade joined John Pope's Army of Virginia in late June. John Pope ( March 16, 1822 &ndash September 23, 1892) was a career United States Army officer and Union general in The Army of Virginia was organized as a major unit of the Union Army and operated briefly and unsuccessfully in 1862 in the American Civil War. He led it at the Battle of Cedar Mountain on August 9, 1862, where he was seriously wounded in the arm and leg. Background Maj Gen John Pope was placed in command of the newly constituted Union Army of Virginia on June 26. Events 48 BC - Caesar's civil war: Battle of Pharsalus - Julius Caesar decisively defeats Pompey at Pharsalus Year 1862 was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting on Monday He returned to duty on October 15 as the division commander; the corps was now part of the Army of the Potomac, designated the XII Corps, under the command of Maj. Gen. Henry W. Slocum. Events 533 - Byzantine General Belisarius makes his formal entry into Carthage, having conquered it from the The Army of the Potomac was the major Union Army in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War. The XII Corps ( Twelfth Army Corps) was a Corps of the Union Army during the American Civil War. Major General or Major-General is a Military rank used in many countries For the American tennis player see Henry Slocum (tennis Henry Warner Slocum ( September 24 1827 &ndash April 14

Geary's division was heavily engaged at Chancellorsville, where he was knocked unconscious as a cannonball shot past his head on May 3, 1863. Forces and plans The Chancellorsville campaign began with the potential of leading to one of the most lopsided clashes in the war Events 1491 - Kongo monarch Nkuwu Nzinga is baptised by Portuguese missionaries adopting the baptismal name of João Year 1863 ( MDCCCLXIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common (Some accounts state that he was hit in the chest with a cannonball, which seems unlikely. )

At the Battle of Gettysburg, Slocum's corps arrived after the first day's (July 1, 1863) fighting subsided and took up a defensive position on Culp's Hill, the extreme right of the Union line. Background and movement to battle See also [[Gettysburg Campaign]] [[Gettysburg Battlefield]] [[Gettysburg Confederate order of battle]] [[Confederate order of battle]] "July 1st" redirects here For the Ayumi Hamasaki song see H (song. Year 1863 ( MDCCCLXIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common See also Battle of Gettysburg See also [[Gettysburg Battlefield]] [[Gettysburg Confederate order of battle]] [[Confederate order of battle]] and [[Gettysburg Union order On the second day, heavy fighting on the Union left demanded reinforcements and Geary was ordered to leave a single brigade, under Brig. Gen. George S. Greene, on Culp's Hill and follow another division, which was just departing. Brigadier General is the lowest ranking General Officer in some countries usually sitting between the ranks of Colonel and Major General. George Sears Greene ( May 6, 1801 &ndash January 28, 1899) was a civil engineer and a Union General during the American Geary lost track of the division he was supposed to follow south on the Baltimore Pike and inexplicably marched completely off the battlefield, eventually reaching Rock Creek. His two brigades finally returned to Culp's Hill by 9:00 p. m. that night, arriving in the midst of a fierce fire fight between a Confederate division and Greene's lone brigade. The War Department was established by the Confederate Congress in an act on February 21, 1861. This embarrassing incident might have damaged his reputation except for two factors: the part of the battle he was supposed to march to join had ended, so he wasn't really needed; and, because of a dispute between army commander Maj. Gen. George G. Meade and Slocum over the filing of their official reports, little public notice ensued. George Gordon Meade ( December 31, 1815 &ndash November 6, 1872) was a career United States Army officer and civil engineer involved

The XII Corps was transferred west to join the besieged Union army at Chattanooga. The Third Battle of Chattanooga (popularly known as The Battle of Chattanooga, and including the Battle of Lookout Mountain and the Battle of Geary's son Edward died in his arms at the Battle of Wauhatchie, enraging him sufficiently to prevail in a battle in which his division was greatly outnumbered. The Battle of Wauhatchie, also known as Brown's Ferry, was fought October 28 and October 29, 1863, in Hamilton and Marion He distinguished himself in command during the Battle of Lookout Mountain, the entire Atlanta Campaign, Sherman's March to the Sea, and the Carolinas Campaign. The Third Battle of Chattanooga (popularly known as The Battle of Chattanooga, and including the Battle of Lookout Mountain and the Battle of The Atlanta Campaign was a series of battles fought in the Western Theater throughout northwest Georgia and the area around Atlanta Georgia, Sherman's March to the Sea is the name commonly given to the Savannah Campaign conducted in late 1864 by Maj The Carolinas Campaign was the final campaign in the Western Theater of the American Civil War. He oversaw the surrender of Savannah, Georgia, and briefly served as the city's military governor, where he was breveted to major general. Savannah is a city located in the state of Georgia, United States. In the UK and US military brevet referred to a warrant authorizing a Commissioned officer to hold a higher rank temporarily but usually without receiving

Governor of Pennsylvania

Opposition poster for the 1866 election. Geary's opponent, Hiester Clymer, ran on a white supremacy platform. Hiester Clymer (1827&ndash June 12, 1884) was an American political leader from the state of Pennsylvania. White supremacy is a racist ideology based on the assertion that White people are superior to other racial groups.

After the war, Geary served two terms as the Republican governor of Pennsylvania, from 1867 to 1873. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania ( often colloquially referred to as PA (its abbreviation by natives and Northeasterners is a state located in the Northeastern He established a reputation as a political independent, attacking the political influence of the railroads and vetoing many special interest bills.

On February 8, 1873, less than three weeks after leaving the governor's post, Geary was fatally stricken with a heart attack while preparing breakfast for his infant son in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Events 421 - Constantius III becomes co- Emperor of the Western Roman Empire. Year 1873 ( MDCCCLXXIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Harrisburg is the Capital of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in the United States of America He was 53 years old. He was buried in Harrisburg with state honors in Mount Kalma Cemetery. Harrisburg Cemetery, formerly known as Mount Kalmia Cemetery, is a prominent Cemetery in Harrisburg Pennsylvania, located at 13th and Liberty streets in

In memoriam

Geary County, Kansas, was renamed in honor of John W. Geary County (county code GE) is a county located in Northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. Geary in 1889 (previously named Davis County for Jefferson Davis, it was renamed at the insistence of its citizens; in 1893, the county electorate rejected an attempt to restore the Davis County name), as is Geary Boulevard in San Francisco, a major artery in that city, Geary Street in New Cumberland, Pennsylvania (where Geary owned a home), Geary Street in Harrisburg, the capital of Pennsylvania, and Geary Hall, an undergraduate dorm building in East Halls at Pennsylvania State University. Jefferson Finis Davis ( June 3, 1808 &ndash December 6, 1889) was an American politician who served as President of the Geary Boulevard (designated as Geary Street east of Van Ness Avenue) is a major east-west thoroughfare in San Francisco California, beginning downtown The Pennsylvania State University (commonly known as Penn State) is a state-related, land-grant, space grant public research University There is a monument to Geary in the town center of Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania. There are also five Mount Pleasant Townships in Pennsylvania Mount Pleasant is a Borough in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania Geary, Kansas (in Doniphan County) was also named in his honor, but the town ceased to exist in 1905. Doniphan County (county code DP) is a county located in Northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. On August 11, 2007, a statue honoring Geary was unveiled on Culp's Hill in Gettysburg National Military Park. Events 2492 BC - Traditional date of the defeat of Bel by Hayk, progenitor and founder of the Armenian nation Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. The Gettysburg Battlefield was the site of the Battle of Gettysburg, fought July 1 to July 3, 1863, in and around the borough of Gettysburg ^[5]

References

• Blackmar, Frank W. , Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, Chicago: Standard Publishing, 1912. 2 vols.
• Eicher, John H. , and Eicher, David J. , Civil War High Commands, Stanford University Press, 2001, ISBN 0-8047-3641-3.
• Gihon, John H. , Geary and Kansas: Governor Geary's Administration in Kansas with a Complete History of the Territory until July 1857, Philadelphia: Charles C. Rhodes, 1857.
• Johnson, Samuel A. , The Battle Cry of Freedom: The New England Emigrant Aid Company in the Kansas Crusade, Lawrence: University of Kansas Publications, 1954.
• Socolofsky, Homer E. , Kansas Governors, Lawrence: University Press of Kansas, 1990, ISBN 0-7006-0421-9.
• Tagg, Larry, The Generals of Gettysburg, Savas Publishing, 1998, ISBN 1-882810-30-9.

Notes

External links

• Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission description of Geary's governorship
• William G. Cutler's History of the State of Kansas
• John W. Geary at Find A Grave