James F. Curtis
Encyclopedia
James Freeman Curtis II 49er, Vigilante leader in San Francisco, its first Chief of Police, officer in the California militia and Volunteers in the American Civil War
.
Curtis went to sea and in 1849 sailed around Cape Horn
, and settled in San Francisco. In the 1850s, he was a leading member of the San Francisco Committee of Vigilance and was a member of the Society of California Pioneers
. He was also an active member of the California Militia and in 1854, was elected First Lieutenant of the California Guard, Light Battery, the oldest military company in the State organized in 1849. Curtis was the first to hold the office of Chief of the San Francisco Police Department
with his election to the office November 4, 1856, which he held until 1858.
, Washington Territory
. In 1862 he became commander of Fort Lincoln, near Crescent City, California
. On June 25, 1863 he was promoted Lt. Colonel and commander of Camp Drum
, in Wilmington, California and of the Military District of Southern California
. He took command of 4th Infantry Regiment California Volunteers, August 20, 1863 until it was disbanded by consolidation, November 30, 1865. On April 11, 1864 he was promoted Colonel of the 4th California Infantry, and continued as commander of Camp Drum, and the Military District. He remained in Southern California
for the duration of the war and was discharged November 30, 1865. In 1867 he was retroactively promoted to Brevet
Brigadier General
as of May 13, 1865, for meritorious conduct during the war.
After the Civil War he moved to Idaho
where he became the secretary of state in 1892. He was also a member of the Grand Army of the Republic
. Curtis died March 1, 1914, in Boston, Massachusetts.
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...
.
49er
James Freeman Curtis was born December 19, 1825, in Boston, Massachusetts. His father died in a train accident in 1839. Not much is known about his father, except he was a midshipman on the USS Constitution in the War of 1812.Curtis went to sea and in 1849 sailed around Cape Horn
Cape Horn
Cape Horn is the southernmost headland of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago of southern Chile, and is located on the small Hornos Island...
, and settled in San Francisco. In the 1850s, he was a leading member of the San Francisco Committee of Vigilance and was a member of the Society of California Pioneers
Society of California Pioneers
The Society of California Pioneers and its members are listed in the Annals of San Francisco of 1855. The key stipulation seems to be that they arrived in California prior to December 31, 1849. Since this was a membership organization, it lists only a portion of the pioneers that came to...
. He was also an active member of the California Militia and in 1854, was elected First Lieutenant of the California Guard, Light Battery, the oldest military company in the State organized in 1849. Curtis was the first to hold the office of Chief of the San Francisco Police Department
San Francisco Police Department
The San Francisco Police Department, also known as the SFPD and San Francisco Department Of Police, is the police department of the City and County of San Francisco, California...
with his election to the office November 4, 1856, which he held until 1858.
Civil War
During the Civil War, Curtis, joined the 4th Infantry Regiment California Volunteers as Major on September 2, 1861. His first assignment was as commander of Fort ColvilleFort Colville
The trade center Fort Colville was built by the Hudson's Bay Company at Kettle Falls on the Columbia River, a few miles west of the present site of Colville, Washington in 1825, to replace Spokane House as a regional trading center, as the latter was deemed to be too far from the Columbia River...
, Washington Territory
Washington Territory
The Territory of Washington was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from February 8, 1853, until November 11, 1889, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Washington....
. In 1862 he became commander of Fort Lincoln, near Crescent City, California
Crescent City, California
Crescent City is the county seat and only incorporated city in Del Norte County, California. Named for the crescent-shaped stretch of sandy beach south of the city, Crescent City had a total population of 7,643 in the 2010 census, up from 4,006 in the 2000 census...
. On June 25, 1863 he was promoted Lt. Colonel and commander of Camp Drum
Camp Drum
Camp Drum refers to two US military facilities:*A Civil War era military encampment active from 1862–1873 near Los Angeles; see Drum Barracks. The Drum Barracks Civil War Museum presently occupies part of the original camp....
, in Wilmington, California and of the Military District of Southern California
District of Southern California
During the American Civil War, the Army had reorganized including the new Department of the Pacific which was created on January 15, 1861. By 1863, the department had five districts including the District of Southern California established on September 25, 1861...
. He took command of 4th Infantry Regiment California Volunteers, August 20, 1863 until it was disbanded by consolidation, November 30, 1865. On April 11, 1864 he was promoted Colonel of the 4th California Infantry, and continued as commander of Camp Drum, and the Military District. He remained in Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
for the duration of the war and was discharged November 30, 1865. In 1867 he was retroactively promoted to 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
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
as of May 13, 1865, for meritorious conduct during the war.
After the Civil War he moved to Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
where he became the secretary of state in 1892. He was also a member of the Grand Army of the Republic
Grand Army of the Republic
The Grand Army of the Republic was a fraternal organization composed of veterans of the Union Army, US Navy, US Marines and US Revenue Cutter Service who served in the American Civil War. Founded in 1866 in Decatur, Illinois, it was dissolved in 1956 when its last member died...
. Curtis died March 1, 1914, in Boston, Massachusetts.
External links
- fortwiki.com, Image:JamesFCurtis.jpg Photo of James F. Curtis
