Background
Adelbert Buffington was born in Wheeling, West Virginia, and graduated from West Point in May 1861 (the same class as Adelbert Ames).
Adelbert Buffington was born in Wheeling, West Virginia, and graduated from West Point in May 1861 (the same class as Adelbert Ames).
Graduated from the United States Military Academy, 1861.
He was brevetted major in 1865, and was commander successively of the United States ordnance depot at Wheeling, West Virginia., and of the arsenals in New York, Baton Rouge, Watertown, Massachusetts, Watervliet, Indianapolis, Pittsburgh, Springfield, Massachusetts, and Rock Island. In the 1893 he was co-inventor, with William Crozier, of the Buffington-Crozier disappearing carriage for coast defense guns, which became the most-used type of carriage for United States coast defense guns emplaced 1895-1917. In 1899 he was appointed Chief of Ordnance and was raised to the rank of Brigadier General.
In 1901 he was retired.
He also invented a magazine firearm, a "rod bayonet," and a rear sight for military firearms. He introduced many other improvements in firearms.
Married Eliza Allston White, May 14, 1873.