George Bomford
Encyclopedia
George Bomford was an inventor, designer, and distinguished military officer in the United States Army
. After graduating from West Point
in 1805, as a lieutenant in the Corps of Engineers, he served as assistant engineer on the defenses of New York Harbor
until 1808. From 1808 to 1810 George served on the defenses of Chesapeake Bay
. From 1810 to 1812 he served as the superintendent engineer of works on Governor's Island. During this period George began design work on a series of heavy coastal defense howitzer
s that would come to be referred to as Columbiad
s.
Appointed Chief of the new US Army Ordnance Corps in 1832. From 1842 he became inspector of arsenals, ordnance, arms, and munitions of war and he held both positions until his death.
. Swift sought and received a "Cadet's Warrant" from General Henry Dearborn
and George was appointed to West Point from the state of New York on 23 October 1804 by West Point records.
During the war of 1812-1815
Bomford was a staff major in the ordinance department and was appointed to the post of assistant Commissary general of ordinance on 18 June 1812. On 6 July 1812 he was attached to the corps of engineers. Colonel Decius Wadsworth
, was Chief of Ordnance from 1815 to 1821. The Ordnance Department and Artillery Department were merged from 1821 to 1832 in the interest of economy. The Ordnance Department would be re-established as the Ordnance Corps in 1832 and Bomford would be the first "Chief of Ordnance" of the newly created department.
, and the mortar
, to produce a long range, high powered, anti-ship weapon. The first prototype guns of this type, pattern 1842 and earlier produced by Alger, came to be referred to as Columbiads since most originated from the Foxall or Columbiad foundry on the Potomack. These guns were stationed around the country as a part of the Second System of Defense. His design was improved by the Dahlgren gun
, but the guns were superseded by the Rodman gun
(Thomas Jackson Rodman
), that was considered an improved Columbiad, especially later models with rifled barrels. The Rodman gun was considered more reliable than the larger sized Parrott rifle
s (that were eventually pulled from inventory) or the early Columbiads. Columbiads continued in operation until after the Spanish-American War
when they were rendered obsolete by the breech-loading rifled cannon.
and attached to the artillery
when the army was reorganized in 1821. He was promoted to full colonel with the organization of the Ordnance Corps (United States Army) and appointed as the third Chief of Ordinance 30 May 1832. On 1 February 1842, he became inspector of arsenals, ordnance, arms, and munitions of war, in which duty he continued until his death.
(Long Island
) in 1780, the reputed son of a British officer, records do not indicate an exact date of birth nor is his father named. Records concerning his son James from Norwich University
show his paternal grandfather was a British officer.
George Catton was born 17 December 1807. He was found guilty on four charges during a West Point court martial on 2 March 1827, resulting from the Eggnog Riot
of December 25, 1826. Although expelled he was allowed to retire.
James was born 5 October 1811 on Governor's Island, New York. He was a graduate from Norwich University in 1828 and was graduated in 1832 from West Point. He was a colonel in the 8th United States infantry, and a brevet
brigadier general in the Civil War
. He was held a prisoner from April, 1861 to May, 1862. He died Jan. 6, 1892, at Elizabeth, N. J. at the age of 80 and was buried, Evergreen Cemetery, Hillside, NJ. Henry died in 1845.
Louisa Sophia was born on 3 May 1813 in Albany, New York
. She died 19 April 1864 in Newport, Rhode Island
.
George remarried 20 April 1816 to Clarissa "Clara" Baldwin (died 10 December 1856) and they had three children. Ruth Theodora: born 1 January 1818; died 28 November 1895, George Erving: born 31 March 1829; died 1864, and Henry Baldwin: born 1823 or 1824; died 9 September 1845.
James' son, George N. Bumford, was a Lieutenant Colonel
of the 42nd New York Infantry, 3rd Brigade
of the Second Division, under the command of Brigadier General Oliver O. Howard
, and fought at the Battle of Fredericksburg
. He died 5 September 1897.
, Massachusetts
25 March 1848 and was buried in a tomb in the family mausoleum on the "Kalorama estate". In 1892, due to construction at the estate the remains of George Bomford, his wife Clara, and one son Henry Baldwin Bomford, was moved to the Rock Creek Cemetery
and placed under one headstone.
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. After graduating from West Point
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
in 1805, as a lieutenant in the Corps of Engineers, he served as assistant engineer on the defenses of New York Harbor
New York Harbor
New York Harbor refers to the waterways of the estuary near the mouth of the Hudson River that empty into New York Bay. It is one of the largest natural harbors in the world. Although the U.S. Board of Geographic Names does not use the term, New York Harbor has important historical, governmental,...
until 1808. From 1808 to 1810 George served on the defenses of Chesapeake Bay
Chesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. It lies off the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by Maryland and Virginia. The Chesapeake Bay's drainage basin covers in the District of Columbia and parts of six states: New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West...
. From 1810 to 1812 he served as the superintendent engineer of works on Governor's Island. During this period George began design work on a series of heavy coastal defense howitzer
Howitzer
A howitzer is a type of artillery piece characterized by a relatively short barrel and the use of comparatively small propellant charges to propel projectiles at relatively high trajectories, with a steep angle of descent...
s that would come to be referred to as Columbiad
Columbiad
The Columbiad was a large caliber, smoothbore, muzzle loading cannon able to fire heavy projectiles at both high and low trajectories. This feature enabled the columbiad to fire solid shot or shell to long ranges, making it an excellent seacoast defense weapon for its day...
s.
Appointed Chief of the new US Army Ordnance Corps in 1832. From 1842 he became inspector of arsenals, ordnance, arms, and munitions of war and he held both positions until his death.
History
By a chance meeting George began a friendship with the first graduate of West Point Joseph Gardner SwiftJoseph Gardner Swift
Joseph Gardner Swift, the first graduate of the United States Military Academy, was born on 31 December 1783 on Nantucket Island, the son of Foster Swift and his wife, Deborah...
. Swift sought and received a "Cadet's Warrant" from General Henry Dearborn
Henry Dearborn
Henry Dearborn was an American physician, a statesman and a veteran of both the American Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. Born to Simon Dearborn and Sarah Marston in North Hampton, New Hampshire, he spent much of his youth in Epping, where he attended public schools...
and George was appointed to West Point from the state of New York on 23 October 1804 by West Point records.
During the war of 1812-1815
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
Bomford was a staff major in the ordinance department and was appointed to the post of assistant Commissary general of ordinance on 18 June 1812. On 6 July 1812 he was attached to the corps of engineers. Colonel Decius Wadsworth
Decius Wadsworth
Wadsworth's cipher was a cipher invented by Decius Wadsworth, a Colonel in the Ordnance Corps of the United States Army. In 1817, he developed a progressive cipher system based on a 1790 design by Thomas Jefferson, establishing a method that was continuously improved upon and used until the end of...
, was Chief of Ordnance from 1815 to 1821. The Ordnance Department and Artillery Department were merged from 1821 to 1832 in the interest of economy. The Ordnance Department would be re-established as the Ordnance Corps in 1832 and Bomford would be the first "Chief of Ordnance" of the newly created department.
Columbiad gun
The heavy coastal defense howitzers designed by Bomford combined attributes of the gunGun
A gun is a muzzle or breech-loaded projectile-firing weapon. There are various definitions depending on the nation and branch of service. A "gun" may be distinguished from other firearms in being a crew-served weapon such as a howitzer or mortar, as opposed to a small arm like a rifle or pistol,...
, and the mortar
Mortar (weapon)
A mortar is an indirect fire weapon that fires explosive projectiles known as bombs at low velocities, short ranges, and high-arcing ballistic trajectories. It is typically muzzle-loading and has a barrel length less than 15 times its caliber....
, to produce a long range, high powered, anti-ship weapon. The first prototype guns of this type, pattern 1842 and earlier produced by Alger, came to be referred to as Columbiads since most originated from the Foxall or Columbiad foundry on the Potomack. These guns were stationed around the country as a part of the Second System of Defense. His design was improved by the Dahlgren gun
Dahlgren gun
Dahlgren guns were muzzle loading naval artillery designed by Rear Admiral John A. Dahlgren USN, mostly used in the period of the American Civil War. Dahlgren's design philosophy evolved from an accidental explosion in 1849 of a 32-pounder being tested for accuracy, killing a gunner...
, but the guns were superseded by the Rodman gun
Rodman gun
Rodman gun refers to a series of American Civil War-era columbiads designed by Union artilleryman Thomas Jackson Rodman . The guns were designed to fire both shot and shell. These heavy guns were intended to be mounted in seacoast fortifications. They were built in 8-inch, 10-inch, 13-inch,...
(Thomas Jackson Rodman
Thomas Jackson Rodman
Thomas Jackson Rodman was an American artillerist, inventor, ordnance specialist, and career United States Army officer...
), that was considered an improved Columbiad, especially later models with rifled barrels. The Rodman gun was considered more reliable than the larger sized Parrott rifle
Parrott rifle
The Parrott rifle was a type of muzzle loading rifled artillery weapon used extensively in the American Civil War.-Parrott Rifle:The gun was invented by Robert Parker Parrott, a West Point graduate. He resigned from the service in 1836 and became the superintendent of the West Point Foundry in Cold...
s (that were eventually pulled from inventory) or the early Columbiads. Columbiads continued in operation until after the Spanish-American War
Spanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
when they were rendered obsolete by the breech-loading rifled cannon.
U.S Capital
George Bomford, and Joseph Gardner Swift were called upon to help rebuild the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C. that began in 1815 and lasted until 1819.Ordnance Corps
On 9 February 1815 he was promoted to Lieutenant colonelLieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
and attached to the artillery
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
when the army was reorganized in 1821. He was promoted to full colonel with the organization of the Ordnance Corps (United States Army) and appointed as the third Chief of Ordinance 30 May 1832. On 1 February 1842, he became inspector of arsenals, ordnance, arms, and munitions of war, in which duty he continued until his death.
Family
Born in New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
(Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
) in 1780, the reputed son of a British officer, records do not indicate an exact date of birth nor is his father named. Records concerning his son James from Norwich University
Norwich University
Norwich University is a private university located in Northfield, Vermont . The university was founded in 1819 at Norwich, Vermont, as the American Literary, Scientific and Military Academy. It is the oldest of six Senior Military Colleges, and is recognized by the United States Department of...
show his paternal grandfather was a British officer.
Marriage
George first married Louisa Sophia Catton, daughter of noted English artist Charles P. Catton, shortly after graduating West Point and they had three children. George Catton Bomford, James Vote Bomford, and Louisa SophiaGeorge Catton was born 17 December 1807. He was found guilty on four charges during a West Point court martial on 2 March 1827, resulting from the Eggnog Riot
Eggnog Riot
The Eggnog Riot, sometimes known as the Grog Mutiny, was a riot that took place at the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York, on 24–25 December 1826. It was caused by the smuggling of whiskey, two days prior to the incident, to make eggnog for a Christmas Day party in the North...
of December 25, 1826. Although expelled he was allowed to retire.
James was born 5 October 1811 on Governor's Island, New York. He was a graduate from Norwich University in 1828 and was graduated in 1832 from West Point. He was a colonel in the 8th United States infantry, and a brevet
Brevet
Brevet may refer to:* Brevet , a temporary authorization for a person to hold a higher rank* Brevet , a long-distance bicycle ride with check-point controls* Aircrew brevet, a Royal Air Force and British Army badge...
brigadier general in the Civil War
Civil war
A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same nation state or republic, or, less commonly, between two countries created from a formerly-united nation state....
. He was held a prisoner from April, 1861 to May, 1862. He died Jan. 6, 1892, at Elizabeth, N. J. at the age of 80 and was buried, Evergreen Cemetery, Hillside, NJ. Henry died in 1845.
Louisa Sophia was born on 3 May 1813 in Albany, New York
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
. She died 19 April 1864 in Newport, Rhode Island
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War...
.
George remarried 20 April 1816 to Clarissa "Clara" Baldwin (died 10 December 1856) and they had three children. Ruth Theodora: born 1 January 1818; died 28 November 1895, George Erving: born 31 March 1829; died 1864, and Henry Baldwin: born 1823 or 1824; died 9 September 1845.
James' son, George N. Bumford, was a Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
of the 42nd New York Infantry, 3rd Brigade
Brigade
A brigade is a major tactical military formation that is typically composed of two to five battalions, plus supporting elements depending on the era and nationality of a given army and could be perceived as an enlarged/reinforced regiment...
of the Second Division, under the command of Brigadier General Oliver O. Howard
Oliver O. Howard
Oliver Otis Howard was a career United States Army officer and a Union general in the American Civil War...
, and fought at the Battle of Fredericksburg
Battle of Fredericksburg
The Battle of Fredericksburg was fought December 11–15, 1862, in and around Fredericksburg, Virginia, between General Robert E. Lee's Confederate Army of Northern Virginia and the Union Army of the Potomac, commanded by Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside...
. He died 5 September 1897.
Death
George Bomford died in BostonBoston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
25 March 1848 and was buried in a tomb in the family mausoleum on the "Kalorama estate". In 1892, due to construction at the estate the remains of George Bomford, his wife Clara, and one son Henry Baldwin Bomford, was moved to the Rock Creek Cemetery
Rock Creek Cemetery
Rock Creek Cemetery — also Rock Creek Church Yard and Cemetery — is an cemetery with a natural rolling landscape located at Rock Creek Church Road, NW, and Webster Street, NW, off Hawaii Avenue, NE in Washington, D.C.'s Michigan Park neighborhood, near Washington's Petworth neighborhood...
and placed under one headstone.