John Armstrong
- Note: The importance of this letter is its revelation of reasons for Armstrong's temporary resignation from the U.S. Senate and also its frank portrait of his wife. The actual meaning of much of the remainder is lost in the murkiness of the bitter three-way struggle then being waged in New York State among the Burr, Clinton, and Livingston interests. The latter two groups had joined early in 1801 to squeeze the Burr faction out of much Republican patronage. The first sentence might well, however, refer to Aaron Burr.
John Armstrong. jr. born 25 Nov 1758 Carlisle, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, to John Armstrong and He died at 1 Apr 1843 (aged 84) Red Hook, Dutchess County, New York, buried in the Armstrong vault, Rhinebeck Cemetery, Rhinebeck, Dutchess County, New York [findagrave;6653356]
Revolutionary War Continental Army Officer, Continental Congressman, US Senator, Presidential Cabinet Secretary. He was the younger son of General John Armstrong, Sr., the famed general of the Revolutionary War and older brother of James Armstrong, who would become a doctor and United States Congressman. He went to the local schools in Carlisle and then off to the College of New Jersey, now known as Princeton. College was interrupted so that he might join in the fight for our independence. With several people named John Armstrong fighting the Revolutionary War, including his famous father, the records and names sometimes get mixed up. He served as aide-de-camp for Major General Hugh Mercer until he carried the wounded and dying general from the battlefield at the Battle of Princeton. Armstrong then became the aide of Major General Horatio Gates and served him through the Battle of Saratoga. Poor health caused him to resign, but in 1782 Gates asked him to return with the rank of major, which he held trough the rest of the war. After the war he returned home to Carlisle and was made Adjutant General of Pennsylvania's militia and served as Secretary of State. In 1787 and 1788 he was a Pennsylvania delegate to the Continental Congress which offered to make him chief justice of the Northwest Territory. He declined this and all other offers for public office for the next twelve years. In 1789 he married Robert Livingston's sister Alida and they moved to New York and took up life as a gentleman farmer. In 1800 he replaced a resigning senator and in 1802 was reelected for his own term. He resigned just a few months later, only to return in 1804 when another Senator resigned. After serving four months of this term, President Jefferson named him minister of France where he served until 1810. During this time he also represented the United States at the court of Spain in 1806. At the start of the War of 1812 he was called back to service as a brigadier general in charge of defending New York. President Madison made him Secretary of War in 1813 and, after making a number of improvements in the armed forces, was blamed for the British burning Washington, DC and was forced to resign. He returned to New York and lived a quiet life while publishing some works on history, biographies, and agriculture. He died at home and his farm is still operating and is owned by the Livingston family.
Bio by: Tom Todd
Family Members Parents Photo John Armstrong 1717–1795
Photo Rebecca Lyon Armstrong 1719–1797
Spouse Photo Alida Livingston Armstrong 1761–1822
Siblings Rebecca Armstrong Turner 1738–1828
Photo James Armstrong 1748–1828
Children Photo Horatio Gates Armstrong 1790–1859
Henry Beekman Armstrong 1791–1854
John Armstrong 1794–1852
Robert Livingston Armstrong 1797–1834
Photo Margaret Rebecca Armstrong Astor 1800–1872
Photo James Kosciuszko Armstrong 1801–1868
Alida Livingston
Alida Livingston Armstrong BIRTH 24 Dec 1761 Clermont, Columbia County, New York, USA DEATH 1 Jan 1822 (aged 60) Red Hook, Dutchess County, New York, USA BURIAL Rhinebeck Cemetery Rhinebeck, Dutchess County, New York, USA PLOT Armstrong Vault MEMORIAL ID 96797059 · View Source
MEMORIAL PHOTOS 3 FLOWERS 5 Parents: Robert R (Aug 1718-9 Dec 1775) & Margaret (Beekman) Livingston
Husband: John (married 18 Jan 1789)
(sources: "The Livingston family in America and its Scottish origins", by Florence Van Rensselaer, 1949, page 101)
Family Members Spouse Photo John Armstrong 1758–1843
Children Photo Horatio Gates Armstrong 1790–1859
Henry Beekman Armstrong 1791–1854
John Armstrong 1794–1852
Robert Livingston Armstrong 1797–1834
Photo Margaret Rebecca Armstrong Astor 1800–1872
Photo James Kosciuszko Armstrong 1801–1868
