Caspar Crowninshield was a volunteer officer in the Union Army

Union Army

The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...

 during the American Civil War

American Civil War

The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...

.

Early life and education

Caspar Crowninshield was born into one of Boston's elite families. The Crowninshields were known for their wealth and success in shipbuilding and maritime trade. Members of the family also held significant political positions. Caspar's grandfather, Benjamin Crowninshield

Benjamin Williams Crowninshield

Benjamin Williams Crowninshield served as the United States Secretary of the Navy between 1815 and 1818, during the administrations of Presidents James Madison and James Monroe.-Biography:...

 had served as Secretary of the Navy

United States Secretary of the Navy

The Secretary of the Navy of the United States of America is the head of the Department of the Navy, a component organization of the Department of Defense...

 under Presidents James Madison

James Madison

James Madison, Jr. was an American statesman and political theorist. He was the fourth President of the United States and is hailed as the “Father of the Constitution” for being the primary author of the United States Constitution and at first an opponent of, and then a key author of the United...

 and James Monroe

James Monroe

James Monroe was the fifth President of the United States . Monroe was the last president who was a Founding Father of the United States, and the last president from the Virginia dynasty and the Republican Generation...

.

Crowninshield entered Harvard College

Harvard University

Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...

 in 1856. His roommate was Robert Gould Shaw

Robert Gould Shaw

Robert Gould Shaw was an American officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War. As colonel, he commanded the all-black 54th Regiment, which entered the war in 1863. He was killed in the Second Battle of Fort Wagner, near Charleston, South Carolina...

 who would go on to be the colonel

Colonel (United States)

In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...

 of the famed 54th Massachusetts Infantry

54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry

The 54th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment that saw extensive service in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The regiment was one of the first official black units in the United States during the Civil War...

—the first African-American infantry regiment

Regiment

A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...

. After graduating in 1860, Crowninshield spent a short time employed in the family mercantile business. The start of the Civil War interrupted his business career as Crowninshield sought out an officer's commission.

Civil War service

Crowninshield started the war as a private in the 4th Battalion of Massachusetts Militia. He became captain of the 20th Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry on August 18, 1861. He transferred to the 1st Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Cavalry as a captain on November 28, 1861. He was promoted to major of the 2d Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Cavalry on January 31, 1863 and became lieutenant colonel on March 18, 1864. He was promoted to colonel

Colonel (United States)

In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...

 of the regiment on November 18, 1864. He was intermittently commander of the Reserve Brigade of Division 1 of the Cavalry Corps of the Army of the Shenandoah

Army of the Shenandoah

Army of the Shenandoah refers to two armies in the American Civil War:* Confederate Army of the Shenandoah* Union Army of the Shenandoah...

 between October 19, 1864 and February 10, 1865 when Colonel, and in December, Brigadier General

Brigadier general (United States)

A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...

, Alfred Gibbs

Alfred Gibbs

Alfred Gibbs was a career officer in the United States Army who served as a brigadier general in the Union Army during the American Civil War...

 was in command of Brigade 2 or for brief periods, in command of the division. Crowninshield temporarily commanded the division for five days at the end of January 1865. Crowninshield was mustered out of the volunteers on June 16, 1865. On February 21, 1866, President

President of the United States

The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....

 Andrew Johnson

Andrew Johnson

Andrew Johnson was the 17th President of the United States . As Vice-President of the United States in 1865, he succeeded Abraham Lincoln following the latter's assassination. Johnson then presided over the initial and contentious Reconstruction era of the United States following the American...

 nominated Crowninshield for the award of the honorary grade of brevet

Brevet (military)

In many of the world's military establishments, brevet referred to a warrant authorizing a commissioned officer to hold a higher rank temporarily, but usually without receiving the pay of that higher rank except when actually serving in that role. An officer so promoted may be referred to as being...

 brigadier general to rank from March 13, 1865. The United States Senate confirmed the award on April 10, 1866.

Post-war life

Crowninshield was described as a "gentleman of leisure" after the war. He died on January 10, 1897 at Boston, Massachusetts. He was buried in Christ Church (Sears Memorial Chapel) Brookline, Massachusetts.

See also

• List of Massachusetts generals in the American Civil War
• Massachusetts in the American Civil War

External links