Owen Thomas Edgar
Encyclopedia
Owen Thomas Edgar was, according to data from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs
, the longest surviving U.S.
veteran of the Mexican-American War.
He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
. He enlisted in the United States Navy
as a 2nd-class apprentice on February 10, 1846, and was discharged August 8, 1849. Edgar saw service on the frigates Potomac, Allegheny
, Pennsylvania
and Experience.
After the war, he worked at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing
for 21 years, then worked at a bank for another 31 years. He spent his last 10 years living at the John Dickson Home in Washington, D.C.
Edgar died September 3, 1929 at the age of 98 after suffering a fall from a chair that fractured his leg, and was buried in Washington's Congressional Cemetery
.
United States Department of Veterans Affairs
The United States Department of Veterans Affairs is a government-run military veteran benefit system with Cabinet-level status. It is the United States government’s second largest department, after the United States Department of Defense...
, the longest surviving U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
veteran of the Mexican-American War.
He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. He enlisted in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
as a 2nd-class apprentice on February 10, 1846, and was discharged August 8, 1849. Edgar saw service on the frigates Potomac, Allegheny
USS Allegheny (1847)
USS Allegheny — the first United States Navy ship to be so named — was a large iron-hulled steamer that served as an American gunboat in the South Atlantic Ocean as well as in the European area...
, Pennsylvania
USS Pennsylvania (1837)
USS Pennsylvania was a three-decked 140-gun ship of the line of the United States Navy, named for the state of Pennsylvania. She was the largest sailing warship ever built for the Navy, and the equivalent of a first-rate of the British Royal Navy, but her only cruise was a single trip from...
and Experience.
After the war, he worked at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Bureau of Engraving and Printing
The Bureau of Engraving and Printing is a government agency within the United States Department of the Treasury that designs and produces a variety of security products for the United States government, most notable of which is paper currency for the Federal Reserve. The Federal Reserve itself is...
for 21 years, then worked at a bank for another 31 years. He spent his last 10 years living at the John Dickson Home in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
Edgar died September 3, 1929 at the age of 98 after suffering a fall from a chair that fractured his leg, and was buried in Washington's Congressional Cemetery
Congressional Cemetery
The Congressional Cemetery is a historic cemetery located at 1801 E Street, SE, in Washington, D.C., on the west bank of the Anacostia River. It is the final resting place of thousands of individuals who helped form the nation and the city of Washington in the early 19th century. Many members of...
.