John Whistler
Encyclopedia
John Whistler was a soldier, born in Ulster
, Ireland
. He ran away from home when a boy, enlisted in the British
army, and served under General John Burgoyne
during the American Revolutionary War
. After the surrender at Saratoga, John returned to England and was honorably discharged. Soon afterward, he eloped with Anna, a daughter of Sir Edward Bishop, a friend of his father. They emigrated to the United States
, and settled at Hagerstown, Maryland
.
Shortly afterward, John entered the United States Army
, and was sent to the Western frontier. He was sent on the Harmar Campaign
of 1790, and was severely wounded in St. Clair's Defeat
of 1791. He was a lieutenant in the Legion of the United States
, and helped build the United States forts in Fort Wayne
. He was promoted to captain on 1 July 1797 and transferred to Fort Lernoult. In Summer 1803, he was sent with his company of the 1st Infantry from Fort Detroit
to Lake Michigan
, where he completed Fort Dearborn
before the close of the year, on the site of the future city of Chicago
. He served as the first commandant of the new fort.
Captain Whistler was recalled to Detroit in 1810. During the War of 1812
, he was breveted to major, and served with his company until the end of the war in 1815. After the war, he was appointed military store-keeper at Newport, Kentucky
. In 1816, he was sent to Fort Wayne
where he built the third fort there; having helped design the first two. In 1817 he moved to St. Charles, Missouri, and was the military storekeeper at Jefferson Barracks, near St. Louis, Missouri
, a position he held until his death at Fort Bellefontaine
in 1829.
, a railroad designer in America and Russia.
Two of John Whistler's grandchildren were officers during the American Civil War
: Union Brigadier-General Joseph Whistler and Colonel Joseph Nelson Garland Whistler. Another grandson, James Abbott McNeill Whistler, also attended West Point in 1851, but was unable to graduate, and became an artist.
John Whistler Elementary School in Chicago, Illinois, is named for John Whistler.
Ulster
Ulster is one of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island. In ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. He ran away from home when a boy, enlisted in the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
army, and served under General John Burgoyne
John Burgoyne
General John Burgoyne was a British army officer, politician and dramatist. He first saw action during the Seven Years' War when he participated in several battles, mostly notably during the Portugal Campaign of 1762....
during the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
. After the surrender at Saratoga, John returned to England and was honorably discharged. Soon afterward, he eloped with Anna, a daughter of Sir Edward Bishop, a friend of his father. They emigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and settled at Hagerstown, Maryland
Hagerstown, Maryland
Hagerstown is a city in northwestern Maryland, United States. It is the county seat of Washington County, and, by many definitions, the largest city in a region known as Western Maryland. The population of Hagerstown city proper at the 2010 census was 39,662, and the population of the...
.
Shortly afterward, John entered the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, and was sent to the Western frontier. He was sent on the Harmar Campaign
Harmar Campaign
The Harmar Campaign was an attempt by the United States to subdue Native Americans in the Northwest Territory in the Autumn of 1790. It was led by General Josiah Harmar and was part of the Northwest Indian War...
of 1790, and was severely wounded in St. Clair's Defeat
St. Clair's Defeat
St. Clair's Defeat also known as the Battle of the Wabash, the Battle of Wabash River or the Battle of a Thousand Slain, was fought on November 4, 1791 in the Northwest Territory between the United States and the Western Confederacy of American Indians, as part of the Northwest Indian War...
of 1791. He was a lieutenant in the Legion of the United States
Legion of the United States
The Legion of the United States was a reorganization and extension of the United States Army from 1792 to 1796 under the command of Major General Anthony Wayne.-Origins:The impetus for the Legion came from General Arthur St...
, and helped build the United States forts in Fort Wayne
Forts of Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne in modern Fort Wayne, Indiana, was established by Captain Jean François Hamtramck under orders from General "Mad" Anthony Wayne as part of the campaign against the Indians of the area. It was named after General Wayne, who was victorious at the Battle of Fallen Timbers. Wayne may have...
. He was promoted to captain on 1 July 1797 and transferred to Fort Lernoult. In Summer 1803, he was sent with his company of the 1st Infantry from Fort Detroit
Fort Detroit
Fort Pontchartrain du Détroit or Fort Détroit was a fort established by the French officer Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac in 1701. The location of the former fort is now in the city of Detroit in the U.S...
to Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America and the only one located entirely within the United States. It is the second largest of the Great Lakes by volume and the third largest by surface area, after Lake Superior and Lake Huron...
, where he completed Fort Dearborn
Fort Dearborn
Fort Dearborn was a United States fort built in 1803 beside the Chicago River in what is now Chicago, Illinois. It was constructed by troops under Captain John Whistler and named in honor of Henry Dearborn, then United States Secretary of War. The original fort was destroyed following the Battle of...
before the close of the year, on the site of the future city of Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. He served as the first commandant of the new fort.
Captain Whistler was recalled to Detroit in 1810. During the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, he was breveted to major, and served with his company until the end of the war in 1815. After the war, he was appointed military store-keeper at Newport, Kentucky
Newport, Kentucky
Newport is a city in Campbell County, Kentucky, United States, at the confluence of the Ohio and Licking rivers. The population was 15,273 at the 2010 census. Historically, it was one of four county seats of Campbell County. Newport is part of the Greater Cincinnati, Ohio Metro Area which...
. In 1816, he was sent to Fort Wayne
Forts of Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne in modern Fort Wayne, Indiana, was established by Captain Jean François Hamtramck under orders from General "Mad" Anthony Wayne as part of the campaign against the Indians of the area. It was named after General Wayne, who was victorious at the Battle of Fallen Timbers. Wayne may have...
where he built the third fort there; having helped design the first two. In 1817 he moved to St. Charles, Missouri, and was the military storekeeper at Jefferson Barracks, near St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, a position he held until his death at Fort Bellefontaine
Fort Bellefontaine
Fort Bellefontaine was the first United States military installation in the Louisiana Territory.Located on the south bank of the Missouri River, in Missouri, Fort Bellefontaine was first a Spanish military post. Later, by a treaty made between the United States Government, signed by William H...
in 1829.
Legacy
John and Anna Whistler had fifteen children. Three of their sons became United States Army officers: John, Colonel William Whistler (a commissioned officer from 1801–1861) and Lt. George Washington WhistlerGeorge Washington Whistler
George Washington Whistler was a prominent American railroad engineer in the first half of the 19th century....
, a railroad designer in America and Russia.
Two of John Whistler's grandchildren were officers 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...
: Union Brigadier-General Joseph Whistler and Colonel Joseph Nelson Garland Whistler. Another grandson, James Abbott McNeill Whistler, also attended West Point in 1851, but was unable to graduate, and became an artist.
John Whistler Elementary School in Chicago, Illinois, is named for John Whistler.