Henry DEARBORN, Congress, MA (1751-1829)

DEARBORN Henry , a Representative from Massachusetts; born in North Hampton, N.H., February 23, 1751; attended the public schools; studied medicine; commenced practice in Nottingham Square in 1772; during the Revolutionary War was a captain in Stark's Regiment and participated in the Battle of Bunker Hill; accompanied Arnold's expedition to Canada and took part in the storming of Quebec; was taken prisoner, but was released on parole in May 1776; joined Washington's staff in 1781 as deputy quartermaster general with rank of colonel, and served at the siege of Yorktown; moved to Monmouth, Mass. (now Maine), in June 1784; elected brigadier general of militia in 1787 and made major general in 1789; appointed United States marshal for the district of Maine in 1789; elected as an Anti-Administration candidate from a Maine district of Massachusetts to the Third Congress and reelected as a Republican to the Fourth Congress (March 4, 1793-March 3, 1797); appointed Secretary of War by President Jefferson and served from March 4, 1801, to March 7, 1809; appointed collector of the port of Boston by President Madison in 1809, which position he held until January 27, 1812, when he was appointed senior major general in the United States Army; was in command at the capture of York (now Toronto) April 27, 1813, and Fort George May 27, 1813; recalled from the frontier July 6, 1813, and placed in command of the city of New York; appointed Minister Plenipotentiary to Portugal by President Monroe and served from May 7, 1822, to June 30, 1824, when, by his own request, he was recalled; returned to Roxbury, Mass., where he died June 6, 1829; interment in Forest Hills Cemetery, Boston, Mass.

Bibliography

Erney, Richard Alton. The Public Life of Henry Dearborn. 1957. Reprint, New York: Arno Press, 1979.

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present