Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 01.djvu/138

ARMSTRONG.ARMSTRONG. ARMSTRONG, John, soldier, was born at Carlisle, Pa., Nov. 25, 1758; son of John Armstrong, an officer in the Continental army, he attended the College of New Jersey, and in 1775 enlisted in Colonel Potter's Pennsylvania regiment. He served as aide-de-camp to Gen. Hugh Mercer in the battle of Princeton, and afterward to General Gates until the close of the campaign against Burgoyne. He was promoted major on the staff of General Gates and in 1783, while stationed at Newburg, wrote the celebrated "Newburg Letters," which were circulated anonymously among the officers of Gates's command, their object being "to do justice to an ill-used soldiery." He served as secretary and also as adjutant-general of Pennsylvania after the war. He was a delegate to the Continental Congress in 1787, and married, in 1789, Alida, daughter of Robert R. Livingston of Dutchess county, N.Y., and removed to that county. He was elected to the U.S. senate, 1799-1801, and 1803-'4. He was U.S. minister to France, 1804-'10, and also to Spain, 1806-'10.

On July 6, 1812, he was made brigadier-general, and was placed in command of New York city and its defences. At the beginning of Madison's second term, in 1813, he was appointed to his cabinet as secretary of war. Henry Adams said of him, "Whatever were Armstrong's faults, he was the strongest secretary of war the government has yet seen." It has been said that the energy he infused into the regular army lasted for half a century. In 1813 the Canadian expedition failed, and three months later the British fired and sacked Washington city. These two disasters were laid at the door of the secretary of war, and he was censured, chiefly through the instigation of Monroe, who influenced the President to demand Armstrong's resignation, and Monroe succeeded him, taking his portfolio Sept. 27, 1814. Armstrong went to Frederick, Md., and later to his farm at Red Hook, N. Y., where he spent his remaining years in literary work. His publications include: "Letters of Verus, addressed to the Native American" (1797); "A Biographical Sketch of the Late Robert R. Livingston" (1820); "Notices of the War of 1812" (2 vols., 1836), and several reviews and treatises. He also contributed to Jared Sparks's "American Biography" the lives of Anthony Wayne and Richard Montgomery, and had completed a military history of the Revolutionary war, the manuscripts of which were destroyed by fire. He died at Red Hook, N. Y., April 1, 1843. ARMSTRONG, Moses K., representative, was born at Milan, O., Sept. 19, 1832. He received his education at Huron institute and Western reserve college, O., and removed to Minnesota in 1856, where he was elected surveyor of Mower county, and in 1858 was appointed surveyor of United States lands. On the admission of Minnesota as a state he removed to Yankton on the Missouri river, and on the organization of Dakota in 1861 was elected to the legislature of the territory, being re-elected in 1862 and 1863, serving as speaker during the last year. In 1864 he was editor of the Dakota Union. He was also territorial treasurer, clerk of the supreme court in 1865, a member of the territorial senate 1866, and in 1867 president of that body. In 1872 he was elected president of the first national bank of the territory. He was a representative from his district in the 42d and 43d congresses, and was also employed by the U.S. government in the boundary survey of South Dakota, and as secretary of the peace commission sent to the Sioux Indians. He became president of the Old bank of St. James, Minn., and published "History of Dakota" (1866). ARMSTRONG, Richard, missionary, was born in Northumberland county, Pa., Sept. 19, 1805. He was graduated from Dickinson college and Princeton theological seminary, and went to the Sandwich Islands in 1832 as a missionary. He served the missions at Nukahiva and Walluka, and in 1840 succeeded Hiram Bingham at Honolulu. He attained not a little distinction, and was chosen minister of instruction by the Hawaiian government. He was also appointed president of the board of education, and later he acted as privy councillor. He died suddenly, from accident, in Honolulu, Sept. 23, 1860. ARMSTRONG, Robert, soldier, was born at Loudon, Tenn., Sept. 17, 1790. He rendered eminent service in the Creek war of 1813-'14, as captain of Tennessee artillery under Jackson. He sustained a severe wound at the battle of Talladega, Ala., Jan. 24, 1814, and was promoted brigadier-general for his distinguished gallantry at the battle of New Orleans. In 1836 he was present at the battle of Wahoo, commanding the Tennessee cavalry volunteers. At the close of his military service he was made postmaster at Nashville, Tenn., by President Jackson, holding the office from 1829 to 1845. From 1845 to 1853 he was United States consul to Liverpool, Eng., under appointment by President Polk, and on his return to the United States in 1852 he founded and edited the Washington Union. He was always on the most confidential terms with President Polk, and was bequeathed a sword by President Jackson. He died at Washington, D. C., Feb. 23, 1854. ARMSTRONG, Samuel Chapman, educator, was born at Wailuku, Island of Maui, Hawaii, Jan. 26, 1839, son of Richard and Clarissa (Dhapman) Armstrong, who were among the first missionaries to that group of islands. Shortly after Samuel's birth his father was appointed minister