★ Totten, Joseph Gilbert

Joseph Gilbert Totten​

Born: April 17, 1798

Birthplace: New Haven, Connecticut

Father: Peter Totten 1757 – 1813

(Buried: Grove Street Cemetery, New Haven, Connecticut)​

Mother: Grace Mansfield 1770 – 1792

(Buried: Grove Street Cemetery, New Haven, Connecticut)​

Wife: Catherine "Catyla" Pearson 1796 – 1862

(Buried: Congressional Cemetery, Washington, D.C.)​

Children:

Child of Totten – 1843​

(Buried: Congressional Cemetery, Washington, D.C.)​

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George Mansfield Totten 1816 – 1857​

(Buried: Congressional Cemetery, Washington, D.C.)​

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Gertrude Margaret Totten 1821 – 1842​

(Buried: Congressional Cemetery, Washington, D.C.)​

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Lt. Joseph Swift Totten 1826 – 1853​

(Buried: Congressional Cemetery, Washington, D.C.)​

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Midshipman Washington Totten 1831 – 1854​

(Buried: Congressional Cemetery, Washington, D.C.)​

Education:

1805: Graduated from West Point Military Academy​

Occupation before War:

1805 – 1806: 2nd​ Lt. United States Army, Corps of Engineers​

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1805 – 1806: Secretary to Surveyor General of Northwestern Territory​

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1806: Resigned from United States Army on March 31st​​

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1806 – 1808: Secretary to Surveyor General of Northwestern Territory​

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1808 – 1810: 2nd​ Lt. United States Army Corps of Engineers​

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1808 – 1812: Assistant Engineer defenses of New York Harbor​

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1810 – 1812: 1st​ Lt. United States Army, Corps of Engineers​

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1812: Paymaster for the United States Army, Corps of Engineers​

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1812 – 1818: Captain United States Army, Corps of Engineers​

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1813: Brevetted Major for meritorious Service in Engineers​

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1814: Brevetted Lt. Colonel for Gallantry at Battle of Plattsburg​

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1817 – 1819: Superintendent Engineer for Fort at Rouse's Point, New York​

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1818 – 1828: Major United States Army, Corps of Engineers​

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1819 – 1838: Member of United States Army Board of Engineers​

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1819: Member of West Point Military Academy, Board of Visitors​

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1821 – 1822: Member West Point Military Academy, Board of Visitors​

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1824: Brevetted Colonel for faithful service ten years in one grade​

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1825 – 1838: Superintendent Engineer Construction of Fort Adams​

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1825 – 1864: Member of U.S. Army Ordnance and Artillery Boards​

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1826: Member of West Point Military Academy, Board of Visitors​

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1828: Member of West Point Military Academy, Board of Visitors​

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1828 – 1838: Lt. Colonel, United States Army, Corps of Engineers​

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1838 – 1863: Colonel, and Chief Engineer of United States Army​

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1838 – 1857: In Charge of U.S. Army Engineer Bureau in D.C.​

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1846 – 1864: Regent of Smithsonian Institute​

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1847: Chief Engineer of army commanded by Major General Scott​

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1847: Brevetted Brig. General for Gallantry at Battle of Vera Cruz​

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1851 – 1858: Member of U.S. Army Lighthouse Board​

Civil War Career:

1838 – 1863: Colonel, and Chief Engineer of United States Army​

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1860 – 1864: Harbor Commissioner for New York, and Boston​

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1861 – 1864: Commander of U.S. Army Engineer Bureau in D.C.​

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1861: President of U.S. Army Retiring Disabled Officers Board​

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1861 – 1862: Member of board to fix and regulate Ordnances​

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1863 – 1864: Brigadier General and Chief Engineer of U.S. Army​

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1863 – 1864: Corporator of National Academy of Sciences​

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1864: Brevetted Major General for long and faithful service​

Died: April 22, 1864

Place of Death: Washington, D.C.

Cause of Death: Pneumonia

Age at time of Death: 75 years old

Burial Place: Congressional Cemetery, Washington, D.C.

 

[gentlemanrob]

Happy Birthday Brig. General Joseph G. Totten! Salutes remembering General Totten on his birthday.

 

[jackt62]

I used to live within walking distance of Fort Totten in Queens, New York. Named after Chief Engineer Totten, it was part of the "Third System" of coastal fortifications that protected the waterways surrounding New York City.

 

[Sheltowee]

Outlived all five of his children- none surviving beyond 41 years of age.

Sad…..

 

[Pollaco]

Third in his Class at West Point sounds impressive until you are reminded there were only 3 students in that class.