Background
George Bomford was born in 1782 in New York City, New York, United States. His father was an officer of the Continental army in the Revolution.
George Bomford was born in 1782 in New York City, New York, United States. His father was an officer of the Continental army in the Revolution.
George Bomford was appointed a cadet to West Point on 24 October 1804, from which he graduated as second lieutenant of engineers in 1805.
For the following seven years after graduation George Bomford was engaged upon fortification work in New York Harbor and Chesapeake Bay. He was promoted first lieutenant in 1806, captain in 1808, and major in 1812. Upon the outbreak of the war with Great Britain he was assigned to ordnance duty, for which he proved to have a special talent. Knowledge of the manufacture of ordnance was rare in this country, and his exceptional abilities made him indispensable. He was appointed lieutenant-colonel of ordnance in 1815, and in 1832 was made colonel and chief of ordnance of the army.
Upon the death of Mrs. Barlow, whose sister Bomford had married, he bought the famous estate of Kalorama, which lay just outside the limits of the city of Washington as then constituted, between the present location of Florida Avenue and Rock Creek. It is commonly associated with Joel Barlow, who owned it, however, for only five years, during part of which time he was absent on a diplomatic mission in France, while it was Bomford's for nearly thirty. During his occupancy it was famous as the resort of statesmen and diplomats. The trees and plants collected there from all parts of the world, under Mrs. Bomford's judicious direction, made it one of the most notable botanical gardens in the country. The failure of a large cotton mill which Bomford had established on Rock Creek crippled his fortunes, already impaired by unfortunate investments in Washington real estate, and late in life he was obliged to sell Kalorama to settle his liabilities. He died at Boston, where he had gone to witness the casting of some heavy guns.
Bomford was a public-spirited citizen, interested in religious, philanthropic, and artistic activities in the District of Columbia, notably in the movement which led to the building of the Washington Monument.
