William Kerley Strong | |
---|---|
Born | Duanesburg, New York | April 30, 1805
Died | March 16, 1867 New York | (aged 61)
Allegiance | United States of America |
Service/ | Union Army |
Years of service | 1861–1863 |
Rank | Brigadier General |
Commands held | Distric of Cairo District of St. Louis |
Battles/wars | American Civil War |
Spouse(s) | Helen Mary Hart |
Children | John Lorimer |
Other work | merchant |
William Kerley Strong (1805–1867) was a merchant and a brigadier general during the American Civil War. He was the commander of Benton Barracks and the districts of Cairo and St. Louis. Strong was also a prominent Democrat, noted his pro-Union speeches. [1]
Strong was a wealthy wool merchant in New York. [1] He was born on April 30, 1805, in Duanesburg, New York [2] to Josiah Strong and Martha Green. [3] Strong's father was an American Revolutionary War veteran who had fought in the Battle of Trenton under George Washington. [3]
Strong was married to Helen Mary Hart and they had 9 children, among whom John Lorimer, and Helen Hart, spouse of Henry Piffard.
In 1839, Strong was noted for constructing a sprawling grand mansion covering 11,634 feet of living space. [5] The property called Rose Hill Mansion was given to Robert Swan in 1850. [4] A contemporaneous newspaper report cited that the property, which was designated a national historic landmark, was sold to Swan's father, who gave it to him as a wedding present. [6]
Strong died on March 16, 1867. [7] He never recovered from his injuries after he was thrown out of his carriage. [7]
When the American Civil War began, Strong was travelling around Egypt. He helped the Union cause by securing weapons in France on his way home. [1] An account cited that because of his pro-Union speeches, he gained the attention of Abraham Lincoln, who appointed him as brigadier general. [1] [7] He was not assigned to field duty but made commander of the Benton Barracks in Missouri. [7] In 1862, he was appointed commander of the District of Cairo, Illinois, replacing General Eleazar A. Paine, who was reassigned for violating orders. [8] Strong was sent to New York for an unknown mission before he was appointed the commander of the District of St. Louis from June to October 1863. [1] He resigned his commission on October 20.
Strong was also appointed as the president of a commission that investigated the circumstances behind the evacuation of the Union forces in New Madrid, Missouri. [7]
After the war, he settled in New York and started employing Black workers.