Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 07.djvu/265

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MANSFIELD


MANSFIELD


England, who settled in New Haven, CJonn., in 1639. His father was a sea captain and engaged extensively in the West India trade. He was graduated from Yale college in 1777, and devoted himself to the private study of sciences and Greek. In 1787 he travelled extensively in Ireland. England and Wales, and on his return went to Philadelphia, Pa., and took charge of the Friends' Latin Grammar school, where he re- mained until 1795. He taught a school for ad- vanced pupils of both sexes in New Haven, 1795- 1802, was married, March 2, 1800, to Elizabeth, daughter of David and Mary (English) Phipps, and on May 3, 1802, was appointed captain of the corps of engineers in the regular army, and sta- tioned at the U.S. Military academy as assistant professor of mathematics. He was U.S. surveyor- general of Ohio and the northwest territory, 1803- 12 ; was promoted major, June 11, 1805. and lieu- tenant-colonel, Feb. 25, 1808. He resigned from the U.S. army, July 23, 1810 ; and was appointed professor of natural and experimental philosophy in the U.S. Military academy, Oct. 7, 1812, but did not enter upon his duties there until August, 1814. He resigned his professorship, Aug. 31, 1828, removed to Cincinnati, Ohio, and returned to New Haven, Conn., in 1829. He received the degree LL.D. from Yale in 1825. He is the au- thor of : Essays, Mathematical and Physical (1802). He died in New Haven, Conn., Feb. 3, 1830.

MANSFIELD, Joseph King Fenno, soldier, was born in New Haven, Conn,, Dec. 22, 1803; son of Henry and Mary (Fenno) Mansfield ; grandson of Ephraim and Mary (King) Fenno.

He was graduated at the U.S. Military academy and pro- moted 2d lieutenant of engineers, July 1, 1822. He was assist- ant to the board of engineers in New York harbor in the construction of Fort Hamilton, 1822-25, and in building the defence of Hamp- ton Roads, Va., 1822- 30. He superintend- ed the construction of U.S. works in southern states, 1830-38 ; was promoted 1st lieutenant, March 5, 1832, and captain, July 7, 1838. He was married, Sept. 25, 1838, to Louisa Maria, daughter of Samuel and Catherine (Liv- ingston) Mather of Connecticut. He was a mem- ber of the board of engineers for Atlantic coast defences. 1842-45 ; chief engineer of the army under Gen. Zachary Taylor in the war with


Mexico, 1846-47 ; was brevetted major for gallant and distinguished services at Fort Brown, Texas, May 9, 1846 ; lieutenant-colonel, Sept. 23, 1846, for Monterey, where he was severely wounded ; and colonel, Feb. 23, 1847, for Buena Vista. He was a member of the board of engineers for the Atlantic coast defences, 1848-53 ; for the Pacific coast defences, April to May, 1833 ; superintend- ing engineer of the construction of Fort Win- throp, Boston, Mass., 1848-53 ; and of improve- ments on the James, Appomattox and Itappa- hannock rivers in Virginia, 1852-53. He was made inspector-general with the rank of colonel. May 28, 1833, on the resignation of Col. George A. Mc- Call and served in New Mexico, California, Texas, Utah and Oregon, 1833-61. He was mustering officer, March and April, 1861, at Columbus, Ohio, and commanded the Department of Washington and the city of Washington, respectively, in 1861. He was brevetted brigadier-general. May 6, and promoted brigadier-general, May 14, 1861. He was in Virginia, 1861-62, commanding suc- cessively Camp Hamilton, Newjwrt News and Suffolk, and was engaged in the capture of Nor- folk, May 10. He served on the court of inquiry on the battle of Bull Run at Washington, D.C., in 1862. He was made major-general of U.S. volunteers, July 18, 1862 ; commanded the 12th corps. Army of the Potomac, in the Maryland campaign, Sept. 10-17, 1862, and participated in the battle of Antietam, Sept. 17, 1862. where, at the head of his corps, he was fatally wounded. A granite monument erected to his memory on the battle-field was dedicated in May, 1900. He died at Antietam, Md., Sept. 18, 1862.

MANSFIELD, Richard, actor, was Ixjrn on the island of Heligoland, Germany, May 24, 1851. His father was a native of England and his mother, Mme. Mans- field Rudersdorf, was a Russian prima don- na. He travelled with his parents in Eng- land and on the continent, attended a private school in Ger- many and Derby school under the Rev. W^alter Clarke. He made his first appear- ance as an actor in the role of Shylock at a class-day exhibi- tion in Derby school. After studying art

at South Kensington, he came to the United States and obtained employment in the mer- cantile house of Eben Jordan, in Boston, where he gained the friendship of his employer. He


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