OK, I realize these next two posts are a bit off of the War of 1812, but are of general history interest to me. You never know what you are going to find when you start researching.
From Garrett's Bridges site.
Back on June 30th, I mentioned that George Washington Whistler had introduced the Howe Truss Bridge to Russia.
What is a Howe Truss bridge?
It was designed by William Howe in 1840 and used mostly wood in its construction and was very good for use in longer spans of bridges.
It is considered one of the best designs for railroad bridges back in its day.
There are still many Howe Truss bridges in the northwestern part of the United States.
--Brock-Perry
2012 marks the 200th anniversary of America's "Forgotten War," the War of 1812 that took place over three years, 1812 to 1815.
Battle of New Orleans.
Showing posts with label George Washington Whistler. Show all posts
Showing posts with label George Washington Whistler. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 4, 2017
Monday, July 3, 2017
Getting To Know Whistler's Father
From the June 2014 Smithsonian Magazine.
There is an interesting article in it titled "Getting To Know Whistler's Father" by Jeff MacGregor.
He writes "Whistler's mother is a superstar. But the painter's dad has languished in obscurity -- until now."
--Brock-Perry
There is an interesting article in it titled "Getting To Know Whistler's Father" by Jeff MacGregor.
He writes "Whistler's mother is a superstar. But the painter's dad has languished in obscurity -- until now."
--Brock-Perry
George Washington Whistler's Grave
From Find-A-Grave.
I wonder whi he might have been named after?
Born May 19, 1800 in Allen County, Indiana,. where his father, John Whistler, was commandant of Fort Wayne. Died April 7, 1849, in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Stonington, Connecticut, New London County.
--Brock-Perry
I wonder whi he might have been named after?
Born May 19, 1800 in Allen County, Indiana,. where his father, John Whistler, was commandant of Fort Wayne. Died April 7, 1849, in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Stonington, Connecticut, New London County.
--Brock-Perry
Sunday, July 2, 2017
George Washington Whistler-- Part 5: Legacy
In 1830 they joined the Baltimore and Susquehanna Railroad and later others. He went to Russia, where he died unexpectedly and evidently his body was returned to the United States as he is buried in Stonington, Connecticut.
LEGACY
Stone arch bridges he built in 1841 are still carrying trains in western Massachusetts..
He also was the first civil engineer in the United States to use contour lines to show elevation and relief on maps.
--Brock-Perry
LEGACY
Stone arch bridges he built in 1841 are still carrying trains in western Massachusetts..
He also was the first civil engineer in the United States to use contour lines to show elevation and relief on maps.
--Brock-Perry
Saturday, July 1, 2017
George Washington Whistler-- Part 4: Got Involved With Railroads
From 1821-1822, he was Assistant Professor of Drawing at West Point.
In 1822 he was reassigned to the artillery corps and was with the commission tracing the international boundary between Lake Superior and Land of the Woods.
In 1827, his brother-in-law and fellow engineer, William Gibbs McNeill, became a member of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. Even though he was still on active duty, Whistler also joined in 1828. He went with McNeill and Jonathan Knight to England to study railroad engineering as Britain was in the forefront of this new mode of transportation.
--Brock-Perry
In 1822 he was reassigned to the artillery corps and was with the commission tracing the international boundary between Lake Superior and Land of the Woods.
In 1827, his brother-in-law and fellow engineer, William Gibbs McNeill, became a member of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. Even though he was still on active duty, Whistler also joined in 1828. He went with McNeill and Jonathan Knight to England to study railroad engineering as Britain was in the forefront of this new mode of transportation.
--Brock-Perry
George Washingtom Whistler-- Part 3: U.S. Military Career
He was born in 1800 at the military outpost at Fort Wayne (Indiana) where his father, John Whistler, was commandant.
Appointed to the USMA at West Point, he graduated in 1819 and was commissioned second lieutenant in the Corps of Artillery.
He served at topographical engineer at Fort Columbus in New York City from 1819-1821. This fort was originally called Fort Jay but the name was changed to Fort Columbus in 1806. During the Civil War, Confederate Major General W.H.C. Whiting died here, the highest Confederate officer to die in a northern prison. I have written about him a lot in my Civil War Naval Blog, Running the Blockade.
When the U.S. Army reorganized in 1821, he became second lieutenant in the First Artillery.
--Brock-Perry
Appointed to the USMA at West Point, he graduated in 1819 and was commissioned second lieutenant in the Corps of Artillery.
He served at topographical engineer at Fort Columbus in New York City from 1819-1821. This fort was originally called Fort Jay but the name was changed to Fort Columbus in 1806. During the Civil War, Confederate Major General W.H.C. Whiting died here, the highest Confederate officer to die in a northern prison. I have written about him a lot in my Civil War Naval Blog, Running the Blockade.
When the U.S. Army reorganized in 1821, he became second lieutenant in the First Artillery.
--Brock-Perry
Friday, June 30, 2017
George Washington Whistler-- Part 2: Major Mover in Early American Railroads and "Whistler's Father"
After major involvement in the development of U.S. railroads, in 1842, he went to Russia as a consulting engineer on the Saint Petersburg-Moscow Railway, the first large-scale endeavor by the Russian government. He introduced the Howe truss bridge to Russia.
Sadly, he is probably best known for being the father of artist James McNeill Whistler, who painted the famous artwork referred to as "Whistler's Mother."
--Brock-Perry
Sadly, he is probably best known for being the father of artist James McNeill Whistler, who painted the famous artwork referred to as "Whistler's Mother."
--Brock-Perry
Thursday, June 29, 2017
George Washington Whistler-- Part 1: William's Brother, John's Son
From Wikipedia.
Keeping it in the family since I have been writing about both John Whistler and William Whistler the last couple weeks. I was unable to find out if he had any involvement in the War of 1812, but if he did, he would have been very young.
1800-1849. Prominent American civil engineer in the first half of the 19th century.
Member of a noted military family, USMA graduate and served in the U.S. Army.
Railroad and locomotive builder. His shops produced the first-known steam locomotives in the United States known to have a whistle.
Kind of a Whistler's Whistle, You Know. Sorry --Brock-Perry
Keeping it in the family since I have been writing about both John Whistler and William Whistler the last couple weeks. I was unable to find out if he had any involvement in the War of 1812, but if he did, he would have been very young.
1800-1849. Prominent American civil engineer in the first half of the 19th century.
Member of a noted military family, USMA graduate and served in the U.S. Army.
Railroad and locomotive builder. His shops produced the first-known steam locomotives in the United States known to have a whistle.
Kind of a Whistler's Whistle, You Know. Sorry --Brock-Perry
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