John Schuyler Crosby (September 19, 1839 – August 8, 1914) (usually referred to as J. Schuyler Crosby) was an American military officer and government official. He was most notable for his service in the

Union Army During the American Civil War, the Union Army, also known as the Federal Army and the Northern Army, referring to the United States Army, was the land force that fought to preserve the Union of the collective states. It proved essential to th ...

during the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states ...

. After leaving the Army, he served as United States

Consul Consul (abbrev. ''cos.''; Latin plural ''consules'') was the title of one of the two chief magistrates of the Roman Republic, and subsequently also an important title under the Roman Empire. The title was used in other European city-states throu ...

in Florence, Italy and as the fifth Governor of the

Montana Territory The Territory of Montana was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from May 26, 1864, until November 8, 1889, when it was admitted as the 41st state in the Union as the state of Montana. Original boundaries ...

. The descendant of several prominent families in New York, Crosby attended the University of the City of New York (now New York University), but left before graduating so he could take an extended world tour. Having served in New York's militia before the Civil War, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Union Army's 1st Artillery Regiment once hostilities commenced. He was later promoted to first lieutenant and brevet captain, and served as assistant

adjutant general An adjutant general is a military chief administrative officer. France In Revolutionary France, the was a senior staff officer, effectively an assistant to a general officer. It was a special position for lieutenant-colonels and colonels in staf ...

under General

Banks A bank is a financial institution that accepts deposits from the public and creates a demand deposit while simultaneously making loans. Lending activities can be directly performed by the bank or indirectly through capital markets. Becaus ...

and assistant inspector general under General

Philip Sheridan General of the Army Philip Henry Sheridan (March 6, 1831 – August 5, 1888) was a career United States Army officer and a Union general in the American Civil War. His career was noted for his rapid rise to major general and his close as ...

. He remained in the Army after the war, receiving brevets as major and lieutenant colonel for his role in defending the U.S. border during the French occupation of Mexico and participation in

Custer George Armstrong Custer (December 5, 1839 – June 25, 1876) was a United States Army officer and cavalry commander in the American Civil War and the American Indian Wars. Custer graduated from West Point in 1861 at the bottom of his class, b ...

's campaigns during the

Indian Wars The American Indian Wars, also known as the American Frontier Wars, and the Indian Wars, were fought by European governments and colonists in North America, and later by the United States and Canadian governments and American and Canadian settle ...

. After leaving the Army in 1871, Crosby worked as an engineer, designing and supervising the construction of lighthouses, breakwaters, and other marine projects. He served as U.S.

in Florence, Italy from 1876 to 1881, Governor of the

from 1883 to 1884, U.S. First Assistant Postmaster General from 1886 to 1889, and as

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the Un ...

school commissioner from 1889 to 1891. Crosby died in

Newport, Rhode Island Newport is an American seaside city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island. It is located in Narragansett Bay, approximately southeast of Providence, south of Fall River, Massachusetts, south of Boston, and northeast of New Yor ...

, on August 8, 1914, and was buried at

Albany Rural Cemetery The Albany Rural Cemetery was established October 7, 1844, in Colonie, New York, United States, just outside the city of Albany, New York. It is renowned as one of the most beautiful, pastoral cemeteries in the U.S., at over . Many historical A ...

Early life

Crosby was born to Clarkson Floyd Crosby (1817–1858) and Angelica Schuyler (1820–1896) in

Albany, New York Albany ( ) is the capital of the U.S. state of New York, also the seat and largest city of Albany County. Albany is on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River, and about north of New York C ...

, on September 19, 1839. He was a lineal descendant of

Pieter Schuyler Pieter Schuyler (17 September 1657 – 19 February 1724) was the first mayor of Albany, New York. A long-serving member of the executive council of the Province of New York, he acted as governor of the Province of New York on three occasions ...

and the great-grandson of

William Floyd William Floyd (December 17, 1734 – August 4, 1821) was an American Founding Father, wealthy farmer, and political leader from New York. Floyd served as a delegate to the Continental Congress and was a signer of the Continental Association and ...

, a signer of the

United States Declaration of Independence The United States Declaration of Independence, formally The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen States of America, is the pronouncement and founding document adopted by the Second Continental Congress meeting at Pennsylvania State House ( ...

. He attended the University of the City of New York (now New York University), but left school before graduation to take a tour of South America, the Pacific Islands, the

East Indies The East Indies (or simply the Indies), is a term used in historical narratives of the Age of Discovery. The Indies refers to various lands in the East or the Eastern hemisphere, particularly the islands and mainlands found in and around ...

, and China.

Career

Civil War

At the beginning to the

he joined the

and, having previous experience with the

New York State Militia The New York Guard (NYG) is the state defense force of New York State, also called The New York State Military Reserve. Originally called the New York State Militia it can trace its lineage back to the American Revolution and the War of 1812. Th ...

, was commissioned a second lieutenant in the First Artillery. His initial service was with the

Army of the Potomac The Army of the Potomac was the principal Union Army in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War. It was created in July 1861 shortly after the First Battle of Bull Run and was disbanded in June 1865 following the surrender of the Confede ...

and he earned promotion to

first lieutenant First lieutenant is a commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces; in some forces, it is an appointment. The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations, but in most forces it is sub-divided into a ...

in August 1861. In 1862, Crosby was transferred to the

Department of the Gulf The Department of the Gulf was a command of the United States Army in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries and of the Confederate States Army during the Civil War. History United States Army (Civil War) Creation The department was co ...

and following the battles of Fort Bisland, Irish Bend and Vermillion Bayou was

brevetted In many of the world's military establishments, a brevet ( or ) was a warrant giving a commissioned officer a higher rank title as a reward for gallantry or meritorious conduct but may not confer the authority, precedence, or pay of real rank. ...

a captain for gallantry. From 1863 until 1865, he served as assistant

under General

. During the Red River Campaign, Crosby earned a letter of thanks from President

Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln ( ; February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was an American lawyer, politician, and statesman who served as the 16th president of the United States from 1861 until his assassination in 1865. Lincoln led the nation thro ...

for carrying dispatches through enemy territory to Admiral Farragut. Following the capture of Mobile, Alabama, Crosby transferred to become assistant inspector general under General

Post-war

Following the war, Crosby remained on Sheridan's staff as aide-de-camp and adjutant general. In this capacity, he served along the Rio Grande during the French occupation of Mexico and during Sheridan's and

's campaigns during the

. He was brevetted four times for gallantry during his military service . Crosby resigned from the army on January 1, 1871, as a brevet lieutenant colonel. After leaving the military, Crosby went to work as a civil engineer, building

breakwaters A breakwater is a permanent structure constructed at a coastal area to protect against tides, currents, waves, and storm surges. Part of a coastal management system, breakwaters are installed to minimize erosion, and to protect anchorages, h ...

and lighthouses. He helped found the

Westchester Polo Club The Westchester Polo Club was the first formal American polo club. It was established in the spring of 1876. Events were held at the Jerome Park Racetrack in New York. The club was responsible for the International Polo Cup. The club moved to Newpo ...

during this period and also won an international pigeon-shooting contest in 1875. On July 20, 1876, Crosby was with Vice-Commodore William T. Garner of the

New York Yacht Club The New York Yacht Club (NYYC) is a private social club and yacht club based in New York City and Newport, Rhode Island. It was founded in 1844 by nine prominent sportsmen. The members have contributed to the sport of yachting and yacht design. ...

on the vessel ''Mohawk'' when a sudden squall overturned the yacht. The U.S. government later presented Crosby with a medal recognizing his heroic efforts to save lives during the boat's sinking.

Consul in Italy

Crosby was appointed

for the United States delegation in Florence, Italy by President Ulysses S. Grant in 1876. While at this posting, he assisted the local government in the capture and prosecution of a group of forgers. For his assistance, on June 29, 1881, Crosby was awarded the Order of the Crown of Italy.

Governor of Montana Territory

Crosby was nominated to become Governor of

by President

Chester A. Arthur Chester Alan Arthur (October 5, 1829 – November 18, 1886) was an American lawyer and politician who served as the 21st president of the United States from 1881 to 1885. He previously served as the 20th vice president under President James ...

. He was confirmed by the

United States Senate The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States. The composition and pow ...

on August 4, 1882, and took office on January 15, 1883. Upon his arrival, Crosby indicated his commitment to the territory by making over $20,000 of investments within Montana. Despite this level of dedication, the Republican governor still managed to antagonize the territory's Democratic majority through liberal use of his veto power. The most prominent example of his veto use was his blocking of a bill authorizing the establishment of a cattle commission and cattle inspection system. Despite the veto, Crosby did take steps to halt cattle infected with Texas fever from being imported into the territory. Other activities pursued by the governor were a strong anti-crime policy, opposition to

polygamy Crimes Polygamy (from Late Greek (') "state of marriage to many spouses") is the practice of marriage, marrying multiple spouses. When a man is married to more than one wife at the same time, sociologists call this polygyny. When a woman is ...

, and an effort to reduce lands held by Native Americans. He also played an important role in blocking cattle interests from gaining control of

Yellowstone Yellowstone National Park is an American national park located in the western United States, largely in the northwest corner of Wyoming and extending into Montana and Idaho. It was established by the 42nd U.S. Congress with the Yellowston ...

. Crosby was an avid

big game hunter Big-game hunting is the hunting of large game animals for meat, commercially valuable by-products (such as horns/antlers, furs, tusks, bones, body fat/oil, or special organs and contents), trophy/taxidermy, or simply just for recreation ("s ...

. While governor, he organized one of the largest big game hunts in U.S. history with a hunting party that included President Arthur,

Secretary of War The secretary of war was a member of the U.S. president's Cabinet, beginning with George Washington's administration. A similar position, called either "Secretary at War" or "Secretary of War", had been appointed to serve the Congress of the ...

Robert Todd Lincoln Robert Todd Lincoln (August 1, 1843 – July 26, 1926) was an American lawyer, businessman, and politician. He was the eldest son of President Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd Lincoln. Robert Lincoln became a business lawyer and company presi ...

, Senator

George Graham Vest George Graham Vest (December 6, 1830August 9, 1904) was a U.S. politician. Born in Frankfort, Kentucky, he was known for his skills in oration and debate. Vest, a lawyer as well as a politician, served as a Missouri Congressman, a Confederate ...

, Daniel G. Rollins and other dignitaries. Crosby resigned as governor on November 11, 1884, in order to become First Assistant Postmaster General.

Later life

Crosby held the position of First Assistant Postmaster General until March 1885. He then moved to New York City where, from 1889 to 1891, he was the city's school commissioner. After completing his job as commissioner, Crosby traveled extensively until 1897. He was also active in the

Grand Army of the Republic The Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) was a fraternal organization composed of veterans of the Union Army (United States Army), Union Navy (U.S. Navy), and the Marines who served in the American Civil War. It was founded in 1866 in Decatur, Il ...

, Loyal Legion, Sons of the Revolution, and a variety of Washington, D.C., and New York City social clubs.

Personal life

On June 26, 1863, Crosby married Harriet Van Rensselaer (1838–1911), youngest daughter of General Stephen Van Rensselaer IV (1789–1868), who was the last patroon of

Rensselaerwyck The Manor of Rensselaerswyck, Manor Rensselaerswyck, Van Rensselaer Manor, or just simply Rensselaerswyck ( nl, Rensselaerswijck ), was the name of a colonial estate—specifically, a Dutch patroonship and later an English manor—owned by the va ...

. She was the granddaughter of Stephen Van Rensselaer III and

Margarita "Peggy" Schuyler Margarita "Peggy" Schuyler Van Rensselaer (September 19, 1758 – March 14, 1801) was the third daughter of Continental Army General Philip Schuyler. She was the wife of Stephen Van Rensselaer III, sister of Angelica Schuyler Church, Philip Je ...

, the daughter of Gen. and U.S. Senator

Philip Schuyler Philip John Schuyler (; November 18, 1804) was an American general in the Revolutionary War and a United States Senator from New York. He is usually known as Philip Schuyler, while his son is usually known as Philip J. Schuyler. Born in Alb ...

. The marriage produced two children: * Stephen Van Rensselaer Crosby (1868–1959), who married Henrietta Marion Grew (1872–1957), sister-in-law of J. P. Morgan Jr. (1867–1943) * Angelica Schuyler Crosby (1872–1907), who married John Brooks Henderson Jr. (1870–1923), son of U.S. Senator

John B. Henderson John Brooks Henderson (November 16, 1826April 12, 1913) was a United States senator from Missouri and a co-author of the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. For his role in the investigation of the Whiskey Ring, he was cons ...

(1826–1913) and Mary Foote (1841–1931) During his final years, Crosby suffered from declining health. On January 20, 1913, while he was in his sick bed, one of his servants suddenly became crazed and he was forced to fight off and subdue the knife wielding valet. Crosby died in

on August 8, 1914. He is buried in Section 14, Lot 1 of

Menands, New York Menands is a village in Albany County, New York, United States. The population was 3,990 at the 2010 census. The village is named after Louis Menand. The village lies inside the town of Colonie and borders the northern city line of Albany. H ...

Descendants

His grandson was Henry Sturgis Crosby (1898–1929), a bon vivant, poet, and publisher who for some epitomized the

Lost Generation The Lost Generation was the social generational cohort in the Western world that was in early adulthood during World War I. "Lost" in this context refers to the "disoriented, wandering, directionless" spirit of many of the war's survivors in th ...

in American literature, who was married to Mary Phelps Jacob (1891–1970).

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Crosby, John Schuyler 1839 births 1914 deaths American people of Dutch descent Politicians from Albany, New York People of New York (state) in the American Civil War Governors of Montana Territory New York University alumni Union Army officers Montana Republicans New York (state) Republicans 19th-century American politicians Burials at Albany Rural Cemetery Schuyler family Military personnel from Albany, New York People included in New York Society's Four Hundred