Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History
Benson Lossing, Ed.

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Worth, William Jenkins 1794-1849

Military officer; born in Hudson, N. Y., March 1, [448] 1794; began life as a clerk in a store at Hudson, and entered the military service, as lieutenant of infantry, in May, 1813. He was highly distinguished in the battles of Chippewa and at Lundy's Lane, in July, 1814, and was severely wounded in the latter contest. He was in command of cadets at West Point from 1820 to 1828, and in 1838 was made colonel of the 8th United States Infantry. He served in the Seminole War from 1840 to 1842, and was in command of the army in Florida in 1841-42. He was brevetted a brigadiergeneral in March, 1842, commanded a brigade under General Taylor in Mexico in 1846, and was distinguished in the capture of Monterey. In 1847-48 he commanded a division, under General Scott, in the capture of Vera Cruz, and in the battles from Cerro Gordo to the assault and capture of the city of Mexico. He was brevetted major-general, and was presented with a sword by Congress, by the States of New York and Louisiana, and by his native county, Columbia. A monument was erected to his memory at the junction of Broadway and Fifth Avenue, New York City, by the corporation of that city. He died in San Antonio, Tex., May 17, 1849.