Background
Scott, Winfield was born on June 13, 1786 in Laurel Branch, Virginia, United States. Son of William and Ann (Mason) Scott.
Scott, Winfield was born on June 13, 1786 in Laurel Branch, Virginia, United States. Son of William and Ann (Mason) Scott.
Attended College William and Mary, 1805-1806.
Commissioned lance corporal in St. Petersburg (Virginia) troop of cavalry, 1807. Commissioned captain of light artillery United States Army, May 3, 1808. Court martialled for criticizing superior officer General James Wilkinson, 1809, suspended from Army for 1 year.
Served on staff brigadier general Wade Hampton, New Orleans, 1811-1812.
Promoted lieutenant colonel, 1812. Captured by British at battle of Queenstown, New York, October 1812.
Paroled, November 1812. Promoted colonel, March 1813.
Led forces which captured Fort George and defeated British at Upholds Creek, New New York
Promoted brigadier general, March 9, 1814. Led American troops at battle on Chippewa River at Lundy’s Lane. New York; directed writing of 1st standard set of drill regulations for army Rules and Regulations for the Field Exercise and Maneuvers of Infantry, 1815.
Head of board to determine which officers would be discharged from army after War of 1812.
Studied French military methods in Europe, 1815-1816. Early temperance leader, wrote scheme for Restricting the Use of Ardent Spirits in the United States, 1821.
President boards of tactics, 1815, 21, 24, 26. Revised and enlarged Infantry-Tactics for army, 1835.
Given command in Black Hawk War, 1832 (troops rendered inactive by cholera epidemic).
Sent by President Jackson to South Carolina. during nullification troubles. Sent to Florida to conduct campaign against Creek and Seminole Indians, 1835. Recalled by President Jackson, 1837, returned to command of Eastern Division in New York, 1837.
Commissioned to restore order on Canadian border in Caroline affair (in which United States citizens gave aid and sympathy to rebels in Canada who demanded more democratic government), 1838.
Transported 16,000 Cherokee Indians from Tennessee and South Carolina. to new lands west of Mississippi River, spring 1838. Sent again to Canadian border to settle boundary dispute between Canada and Maine, fall 1838.
General-in-chief United States Army, 1841-1861. Dissatisfied with accomplishments of General Zachary Taylor in Mexican War, personally led forces in Mexico.
Captured Vera Cruz, March 26, 1847.
Led troops in victories at Cerro Gordo, Contreras, Churubusco, Molino del Rey and Chapultepec. Occupied Mexico City, September 14, 1847. Whig candiate for President United States, 1852, defeated by Franklin Pierce.
Lieutenant general, 1855.
Settled Anglo-American dispute over possession of San Juan Island in Puget Sound, 1859. Retired due to infirmities and age, November 1, 1861.
Remained loyal to the United States during Civil War, although Confederacy sought his services.
Married Maria Doctorate. Mayo, March 11, 1817, 7 children.
Brevet Lieutenant General