Theodore Runyon
Encyclopedia
Theodore Runyon was a United States
politician, diplomat, and Civil War
brigadier general
in the Union army
.
of Huguenot
descent. He was a direct descendant of Vincent Rongion http://www.familysearch.org/eng/default.asp (1644–1713), a Huguenot who was born in Poitiers, France and settled in New Jersey
. Theodore Runyon graduated from Yale University
, where he helped found Scroll and Key
Society. Runyon entered the New Jersey bar in 1846 and began the practice of law in Newark, New Jersey
.
As a brigadier general in the Union Army
, Runyon led the Fourth Division of the Army of Northeastern Virginia
in the First Battle of Bull Run
. Fort Runyon
, named in his honor, was a timber
and earthwork fort constructed by the Union Army following the occupation of northern Virginia
in order to defend the southern approaches to the Long Bridge as part of the defenses of Washington, D.C.
during that war.
From 1864 to 1866, Runyon served as mayor of Newark as a Democrat
. He had previously been city attorney and city counsel. Runyon was appointed Major General
in charge of the New Jersey National Guard
and served in this post until 1873. He was the first president of the Manufacturers' National Bank of Newark until he became chancellor
of New Jersey, an office he held for 14 years.
In 1893, Runyon became envoy and later ambassador to Germany
where he died in 1896. He is buried at Mount Pleasant Cemetery
in Newark, New Jersey.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician, diplomat, and 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...
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...
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...
.
Biography
Theodore Runyon was born in Somerville, New JerseySomerville, New Jersey
Somerville is a borough in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 12,098. It is the county seat of Somerset County....
of Huguenot
Huguenot
The Huguenots were members of the Protestant Reformed Church of France during the 16th and 17th centuries. Since the 17th century, people who formerly would have been called Huguenots have instead simply been called French Protestants, a title suggested by their German co-religionists, the...
descent. He was a direct descendant of Vincent Rongion http://www.familysearch.org/eng/default.asp (1644–1713), a Huguenot who was born in Poitiers, France and settled in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. Theodore Runyon graduated from Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, where he helped found Scroll and Key
Scroll and Key
The Scroll and Key Society is a secret society, founded in 1842 at Yale University, in New Haven, Connecticut. It is the wealthiest and second oldest Yale secret society...
Society. Runyon entered the New Jersey bar in 1846 and began the practice of law in Newark, New Jersey
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
.
As a brigadier general 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...
, Runyon led the Fourth Division of the Army of Northeastern Virginia
Army of the Potomac
The Army of the Potomac was the major Union Army in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War.-History:The Army of the Potomac was created in 1861, but was then only the size of a corps . Its nucleus was called the Army of Northeastern Virginia, under Brig. Gen...
in the First Battle of Bull Run
First Battle of Bull Run
First Battle of Bull Run, also known as First Manassas , was fought on July 21, 1861, in Prince William County, Virginia, near the City of Manassas...
. Fort Runyon
Fort Runyon
Fort Runyon was a timber and earthwork fort constructed by the Union Army following the occupation of northern Virginia in the American Civil War in order to defend the southern approaches to the Long Bridge as part of the defenses of Washington, D.C. during that war...
, named in his honor, was a timber
Timber
Timber may refer to:* Timber, a term common in the United Kingdom and Australia for wood materials * Timber, Oregon, an unincorporated community in the U.S...
and earthwork fort constructed by the Union Army following the occupation of northern Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
in order to defend the southern approaches to the Long Bridge as part of the defenses of 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....
during that war.
From 1864 to 1866, Runyon served as mayor of Newark as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
. He had previously been city attorney and city counsel. Runyon was appointed Major General
Major general (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, and United States Air Force, major general is a two-star general-officer rank, with the pay grade of O-8. Major general ranks above brigadier general and below lieutenant general...
in charge of the New Jersey National Guard
New Jersey National Guard
The New Jersey Army National Guard consists of over 9000 Guardsmen. The Guard is currently engaged in several worldwide and homeland missions. Units have deployed to Iraq, Guantanamo Bay, Afghanistan, Germany and Egypt...
and served in this post until 1873. He was the first president of the Manufacturers' National Bank of Newark until he became chancellor
Chancellor
Chancellor is the title of various official positions in the governments of many nations. The original chancellors were the Cancellarii of Roman courts of justice—ushers who sat at the cancelli or lattice work screens of a basilica or law court, which separated the judge and counsel from the...
of New Jersey, an office he held for 14 years.
In 1893, Runyon became envoy and later ambassador to Germany
United States Ambassador to Germany
The United States has had diplomatic relations with the nation of Germany and its predecessor nation, the Kingdom of Prussia, since 1835. These relations were broken twice while Germany and the United States were at war...
where he died in 1896. He is buried at Mount Pleasant Cemetery
Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Newark
right|thumb|200px|Mourning AngelMount Pleasant Cemetery is a large Victorian-era cemetery in Newark's North Ward. It is located on the west bank of the Passaic River in Newark's Broadway neighborhood, opposite Kearny. It occupies approximately 40 acres and is widely used as a park...
in Newark, New Jersey.
See also
- List of American Civil War generals
External links
- All Biographies: Brigadier-General Theodore Runyon, U.S.V.
- The Political Graveyard: Index to Politicians: Rugh to Rusch