William Henry Winder

Background

William H. Winder was born on February 18, 1775, in Somerset County, Maryland, the son of John Winder and Charlotte Henry, and a descendant of another John Winder, who settled in that county about 1665.

Education

Winder graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, and from 1798 to 1812, practiced law in Baltimore.

Career

In March 1812 he was appointed lieutenant-colonel of infantry, was promoted to the rank of colonel in July, served on the northern frontier, was appointed brigadier-general, March 12, 1813. In June he was captured at the Stony Creek affair and released on parole, so that he was not again available for field service for a year.

In August 1814 he commanded at the battle of Bladensburg. Here the militia stood their ground while the British were crossing the river and all the casualties were at first on the British side; but when the enemy deployed and attacked, the Americans - except a small naval contingent under Joshua Barney - scattered over the countryside. The British spent the next day destroying the public buildings in Washington, and some private ones as well, and withdrew to the coast unmolested.

Winder was discharged from the army on June 15, 1815, and resumed the practice of law in Baltimore, where he died nine years later on May 24, 1824.

Achievements

• One of the most eminent lawyers of his time, universally respected in his own community, William H. Winder came to be remembered only for his brief and disastrous military career.

Connections

In 1799, William H. Winder married his cousin Gertrude, the daughter of William Polk of Somerset County. The couple had two sons.

Father:

William Winder

Mother:

Charlotte Winder (Henry)

Sister:

Dorothy Laird (Winder)

Son:

John Henry Winder

John Henry Winder was a career United States Army officer, who served with distinction during the Mexican War.

Son:

William H. Winder

Brother:

John Winder

Wife:

Gertrude Winder (Polk)