Military officer; born in
Westernville, Oneida co., N. Y., Jan. 16, 1815; graduated at
West Point in 1839, entering the engineer corps.
Until June, 1840, he was assistant professor at
West Point, and from 1841 to 1844 was employed on the fortifications in New York Harbor.
In 1845 he visited the military establishments of
Europe.
In the winter of 1845-46 he delivered at the Lowell Institute,
Boston, a series of lectures on the science of war, afterwards published in book form with the title of
Elements of military art and Science.
He served in
California and on the
Pacific coast during the war with
Mexico, in which he distinguished himself.
He was on the staff of
Commodore Shubrick at the capture of
Mazatlan, and was made lieutenant-governor.
From Aug. 13, 1847, to Dec. 20, 1849, he was secretary of the province and
Territory of California, and had a large share in preparing the
State constitution.
He left the army in 1854, and began the practice of law in
San Francisco.
In August, 1861, he was appointed a major-general of the regular army, and succeeded
Fremont in command of the Western Department in November.
In 1862 he took command of the army before
Corinth, and in July of that year he was appointed general-in-chief, and held that post until superseded by
Grant, when he became chief of staff of the army, remaining such till April, 1865, when he was placed in command of the Military Division of the James, with his headquarters at
Richmond.
In August he was transferred to the
Division of the
Pacific, and in March, 1869, to that of the
South, with headquarters at
Louisville, where he died Jan. 9, 1872.
General Halleck published several works upon military and scientific topics.
