Jonathan Williams | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Portrait byThomas Sully, 1815. | |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromPennsylvania's1st district | |
| In office March 4, 1815 – May 16, 1815 | |
| Superintendent of the United States Military Academy | |
| In office 1801–1812 | |
| Preceded by | position established |
| Succeeded by | Joseph Gardner Swift |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1750-05-20)May 20, 1750 |
| Died | May 16, 1815(1815-05-16) (aged 64) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Resting place | Laurel Hill Cemetery,Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Harvard University (AM) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1801 - 1812 |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Unit | Corps of Engineers |
| Commands | Chief of Engineers Superintendent of the United States Military Academy |
Jonathan Williams (May 20, 1750 – May 16, 1815) was an American military officer, engineer, and politician. He served as the firstsuperintendent of the United States Military Academy from 1801 to 1803 and from 1805 to 1812. He served aschief of engineers of theUnited States Army Corps of Engineers from 1802 to 1803 and from 1805 to 1812. He led the construction of fortifications inNew York Harbor from 1807 to 1811, includingCastle Williams, the firstcasemated battery in the United States. He served as a member of theUnited States House of Representatives for Pennsylvania in 1815 but died before the14th United States Congress assembled.
Williams was born inBoston on May 20, 1750.[1] He was a grandnephew ofBenjamin Franklin. He graduated fromHarvard in 1787 with an A.M. degree[2] and worked at a bank in Boston.[1]
He served as personal secretary to Benjamin Franklin in London and Paris from 1770 to 1783.[2]
In 1785, he returned to the United States. He lived in Philadelphia and served as a judge of thePennsylvania courts of common pleas.[1] He joined theAmerican Philosophical Society in 1787[3] and served as secretary.[2]
PresidentJohn Adams appointed Williams a major in theCorps of Artillerists and Engineers in February 1801. PresidentThomas Jefferson upon approval made him the Army's Inspector of Fortifications and assigned him to serve as the firstsuperintendent ofWest Point in December 1801. The following year Jefferson also appointed him to concurrently command the separateCorps of Engineers established by theMilitary Peace Establishment Act and Congress and signed by Jefferson on March 16, 1802. He vacated (not resigned) his Superintendent position in 1803 but was reappointed in 1805.[4]
He led the construction of fortifications of New York Harbor.[5] From 1807 to 1811 Williams designed and completed construction of Castle Williams (the East Battery) andCastle Clinton (the West Battery). Castle Williams was the first casemated battery in the United States.[2] His fortifications proved effective and deterred the British Navy during theWar of 1812.[5] He founded the U.S. Military Philosophical Society and gave it its motto, "Science in War is the Guarantee of Peace."[2]
He resigned from the Army in July 1812 afterSecretary of War,William Eustis, refused to give him command of Castle Williams. He served asbrigadier general in theNew York Militia and his position as Superintendent of the United States Military Academy was given to ColonelJoseph Gardner Swift.[6][7] He eventually returned to Philadelphia and pursued scientific and literary efforts. He was elected to theFourteenth United States Congress from that city in 1814.[1]
He died in Philadelphia on May 16, 1815.[1] He was originally buried in Pine Street Cemetery in Philadelphia[8] and was re-interred toLaurel Hill Cemetery in 1862.[9]
In 1802, the investorRichard Woodhull purchased 13 acres (53,000 m2) in theTown of Bushwick and named the area Williamsburgh (later changed toWilliamsburg), after Williams, who surveyed the land.[10]
In 1810, Castle Williams was named in his honor.[11]
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by none | Superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy 1801–1803 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy 1805–1812 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Chief of Engineers 1802–1803 1805–1812 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromPennsylvania's 1st congressional district 1815 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
| People | |
| Other | |
