William H. Seward Jr.
William Henry Seward Jr. | |
|---|---|
| Born | Error: Invalid birth date for calculating age Auburn, New York, U.S. |
| Died | April 29, 1920 (aged 80) |
| Occupation(s) | Financier, Brigadier General (Union Army) |
| Years active | 1860–1920 |
| Known for | Service in the Union Army during the American Civil War; banking career |
William Henry Seward Jr. (June 18, 1839 – April 29, 1920) was an American financier and brigadier general who served in the Union Army throughout the Civil War. He was the youngest child of William H. Seward, who held the position of United States Secretary of State under Presidents Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson.
Early life
Born in Auburn, New York, Seward entered the world as his father assumed the governorship of New York. His mother, Frances Adeline Seward, was the daughter of Judge Elijah Miller, a legal partner to Seward senior, who constructed the family residence in Auburn in 1816. Among his older siblings were Augustus Henry Seward, a brevet colonel in the Paymaster Corps, and Frederick William Seward, who acted as Assistant Secretary of State during their father’s tenure.
Banking
Receiving his education at home, Seward cultivated a passion for finance and formed a partnership with Clinton McDougall. In 1860, he worked as private secretary to his father while the latter was a senator. The following year, he established a private banking firm in Auburn. His banking career was interrupted on August 22, 1862, when he enlisted in the Union Army amid the Civil War.
Military career
Seward received an appointment as lieutenant colonel of New York’s 138th Infantry Regiment, which was redesignated as the 9th New York Heavy Artillery Regiment in December 1862. Initially assigned to defend Washington, D.C., the unit later reverted to infantry status and joined the Army of the Potomac due to heavy casualties sustained during the Overland Campaign. Following action at the Battle of Cold Harbor, Seward earned promotion to colonel on June 10, 1864.
Soon after this advancement, his regiment was dispatched northward to confront Confederate Lieutenant General Jubal Early’s forces during the Valley Campaigns of 1864. On July 9, 1864, at the Battle of Monocacy, Seward sustained wounds including an arm injury and a broken leg caused when his horse was shot and fell. Elevated to brigadier general on September 13, 1864, he commanded a brigade within the Department of West Virginia from January through April 1865. Known familiarly as "The General" by relatives, he temporarily assumed command of the 3rd Division after Brigadier General George Crook was captured by Confederate guerrillas in February 1865.
Post-military career
Seward formally resigned from military service on June 1, 1865. He returned to banking and resided with his wife at the family estate in Auburn, New York. Beyond finance, he participated actively in political affairs, philanthropic initiatives, patriotic organizations, and historical societies. Additionally, he held director positions across multiple companies. In 1875, he contributed to founding the Auburn City Hospital.
In 1886, Seward was inducted as a companion into the New York Commandery of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, receiving insignia number 4696.
Personal life
Seward wed Janet MacNeil Watson (1839–1913), with whom he had three children:
- Cornelia Margaret Seward Allen (1862–1921)
- William Henry Seward III (1864–1951)
- Frances Janet Seward Messenger (1880–1957)
William Henry Seward Jr. passed away in Auburn on April 26, 1920, at age eighty. He was interred at Auburn’s Fort Hill Cemetery, resting beside his father, William H. Seward.
See also
References
- Eicher, John H., and David J. Eicher, Civil War High Commands. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2001. .
- Sifakis, Stewart. Who Was Who in the Civil War. New York: Facts On File, 1988. .
- Warner, Ezra J. Generals in Blue: Lives of the Union Commanders. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1964. .