Albert James Myer

Background

Myer, Albert James was born on September 20, 1829 in Newburgh, New York, United States. Son of Henry Beekman and Eleanor Pope (McLannan) Myer.

Education

Bachelor of Arts, Hobart College 1847. Doctor of Medicine Buffalo Medical College, 1851.

Career

Saw the possibilities of visual signals while serving in Texas. Became signal officer, 1860. Organized, commanded Signal corpus, United States army, 1861.

Furnished plans for naval signaling. Promoted lieutenant colonel, 1862, colonel, 1862. Colonel and chief signal officer, 1863-1864.

Signal officer Division of West Mississippi, 1864 to end of Civil War. Brevetted brigadier general, 1865. Commissioned colonel, chief signal officer United States Army, 1866.

Established, supervised United States Weather Bureau, 1870. United States representative at meteorological congresses in Vienna, 1873, Rome, 1879. Promoted brigadier general, 1880.

Army camp Fort Myer (Virginia) named for him.

Connections

Married Catherine Walden, 6 children.

Father:

Henry Beekman Myer

Mother:

Eleanor Pope (McLannan) Myer

Spouse:

Catherine Walden