James Monroe Ingalls
Encyclopedia
James Monroe Ingalls was an American
soldier and an authority on ballistics
. His ballistic tables were the authoritative source for over 100 years.
. He was the youngest of 9 children of James Ingalls (circa 1792-1866) and Mary Cass (circa 1797-1883). His parents are buried in Forest Hill Cemetery, Madison, Dane County, Wisconsin
. He had a sister, Jane Margaret Ingalls (1821–1920), who married Estes Wilson. Jane Ingalls Wilson was one of the first female physicians in Wisconsin.
Ingalls spent his childhood in Clinton, Massachusetts
. He worked as an errand boy at Lancaster Mills and graduated from Clinton High School in 1856.
James Monroe Ingalls moved to Madison, Wisconsin
with his parents about 1856. He became a professor of mathematics in the Evansville Seminary, Wisconsin, 1860-1863. He enlisted in the regular army, January 2, 1864 during the Civil War
, and was assigned to the 16th Infantry; was promoted corporal and served as commissary and quartermaster-sergeant until May 21, 1865. He was promoted 2d and 1st lieutenant May 3, 1865, accepting the promotions May 21, 1865. On April 17, 1869, he was transferred to the 2d Infantry; on January 1, 1871, to the 1st artillery; was Commandant of Cadets and Professor of Military Science and Tactics and Mathematics at West Virginia University 1877-78. He was a very popular professor. He was promoted captain of artillery July 1, 1880; major June 1, 1897, and lieutenant-colonel October 5, 1900. He served in Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia, and other points in the south 1864-71, and was then sent to the artillery school, Fort Monroe, graduating in the class of 1872. He was next stationed successively at Plattsburgh Barracks
, and Forts Jefferson and Barrancas, and in July 1880, was assigned to the command of Battery A, Governor's Island, New York Harbor, and thence transferred to San Francisco Harbor, where he served until ordered to Battery G at Fort Munroe 1882. He suggested and organized the department of ballistics at the artillery school, Fort Monroe, and was made the first instructor December 19, 1882, which position he held until the school suspended operations in the spring of 1898 on account of the war with Spain. He was also senior instructor in practical artillery exercises, class of 1884; in engineering, class of 1888; in electricity and defensive torpedoes, classes of 1884, 1886, 1888, and 1890; and in signaling, 1884-88. Lieutenant Colonel Ingalls retired from the Army in 1901; in 1904, he was made colonel retired. James Monroe Ingalls died May 1, 1927 in Providence, Rhode Island.
Author A. J. Bastarache has called Colonel Ingalls the "Father of Ballistics" for his pioneering research that contributed to America's military successes through the 20th century.
Ingalls married Elizabeth Niles, daughter of John S. Niles and Elizabeth Lilly, in July 1860, in Dane County, Wisconsin
. She was born in 1841 in Leon, Cattaraugus County, New York and died July 28, 1875 of typhoid fever at Fort Barrancas
, Escambia County, Florida
, and is buried in the national cemetery there. James and Elizabeth had two children: Arthur Niles Ingalls (1861–1875) who also died of typhoid fever and is buried with his mother, and Hilda Eliza Ingalls b. September 1868, McPhersonburg, Virginia, married 1889 to Joel Randall Burrow, who later became the Secretary of State of the State of Kansas. Hilda died November 4, 1908 and is buried at Fairview Cemetery, Smith Center, Kansas.
James Monroe Ingalls married a second time on July 17, 1877, New London, Connecticut, to Harriet Elizabeth Thurston, daughter of Benjamin Babcock Thurston, who had been Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island
. They had one child, Fanny Thurston Ingalls, who never married.
Ingalls died May 1, 1927 in Providence, Rhode Island
, and is buried in Cedar Grove Cemetery, New London, Connecticut
.
He was the author of:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soldier and an authority on ballistics
Ballistics
Ballistics is the science of mechanics that deals with the flight, behavior, and effects of projectiles, especially bullets, gravity bombs, rockets, or the like; the science or art of designing and accelerating projectiles so as to achieve a desired performance.A ballistic body is a body which is...
. His ballistic tables were the authoritative source for over 100 years.
Biography
Ingalls was born January 25, 1837 in Sutton Township, Caledonia County, VermontCaledonia County, Vermont
Caledonia County is a county located in the U.S. state of Vermont. As of 2010, the population was 31,227. Its shire town is St. Johnsbury.The county was given the Latin name for Scotland, in honor of the many settlers who claimed ancestry there....
. He was the youngest of 9 children of James Ingalls (circa 1792-1866) and Mary Cass (circa 1797-1883). His parents are buried in Forest Hill Cemetery, Madison, Dane County, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
. He had a sister, Jane Margaret Ingalls (1821–1920), who married Estes Wilson. Jane Ingalls Wilson was one of the first female physicians in Wisconsin.
Ingalls spent his childhood in Clinton, Massachusetts
Clinton, Massachusetts
Clinton is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 13,606 at the 2010 census.For geographic and demographic information on the census-designated place Clinton, please see the article Clinton , Massachusetts....
. He worked as an errand boy at Lancaster Mills and graduated from Clinton High School in 1856.
James Monroe Ingalls moved to Madison, Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....
with his parents about 1856. He became a professor of mathematics in the Evansville Seminary, Wisconsin, 1860-1863. He enlisted in the regular army, January 2, 1864 during the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, and was assigned to the 16th Infantry; was promoted corporal and served as commissary and quartermaster-sergeant until May 21, 1865. He was promoted 2d and 1st lieutenant May 3, 1865, accepting the promotions May 21, 1865. On April 17, 1869, he was transferred to the 2d Infantry; on January 1, 1871, to the 1st artillery; was Commandant of Cadets and Professor of Military Science and Tactics and Mathematics at West Virginia University 1877-78. He was a very popular professor. He was promoted captain of artillery July 1, 1880; major June 1, 1897, and lieutenant-colonel October 5, 1900. He served in Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia, and other points in the south 1864-71, and was then sent to the artillery school, Fort Monroe, graduating in the class of 1872. He was next stationed successively at Plattsburgh Barracks
Old Stone Barracks
The "Old Stone Barracks" is the last remaining structure of a proposed quadrangle of early U.S. Army barracks built at Plattsburgh, New York in 1838. Of the four main buildings initially planned for the Plattsburgh post, only two were ever constructed, an officer's barracks and an enlisted...
, and Forts Jefferson and Barrancas, and in July 1880, was assigned to the command of Battery A, Governor's Island, New York Harbor, and thence transferred to San Francisco Harbor, where he served until ordered to Battery G at Fort Munroe 1882. He suggested and organized the department of ballistics at the artillery school, Fort Monroe, and was made the first instructor December 19, 1882, which position he held until the school suspended operations in the spring of 1898 on account of the war with Spain. He was also senior instructor in practical artillery exercises, class of 1884; in engineering, class of 1888; in electricity and defensive torpedoes, classes of 1884, 1886, 1888, and 1890; and in signaling, 1884-88. Lieutenant Colonel Ingalls retired from the Army in 1901; in 1904, he was made colonel retired. James Monroe Ingalls died May 1, 1927 in Providence, Rhode Island.
Author A. J. Bastarache has called Colonel Ingalls the "Father of Ballistics" for his pioneering research that contributed to America's military successes through the 20th century.
Ingalls married Elizabeth Niles, daughter of John S. Niles and Elizabeth Lilly, in July 1860, in Dane County, Wisconsin
Dane County, Wisconsin
As of the census of 2000, there were 426,526 people, 173,484 households, and 100,794 families residing in the county. The population density was 355 people per square mile . There were 180,398 housing units at an average density of 150 per square mile...
. She was born in 1841 in Leon, Cattaraugus County, New York and died July 28, 1875 of typhoid fever at Fort Barrancas
Fort Barrancas
Fort Barrancas or Fort San Carlos de Barrancas is a historic United States military fort in the Warrington area of Pensacola, Florida, located physically on Naval Air Station Pensacola....
, Escambia County, Florida
Escambia County, Florida
Escambia County is the westernmost county in the U.S. state of Florida. The 2010 population was 297,619. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 296,772. Its county seat is Pensacola.- History :...
, and is buried in the national cemetery there. James and Elizabeth had two children: Arthur Niles Ingalls (1861–1875) who also died of typhoid fever and is buried with his mother, and Hilda Eliza Ingalls b. September 1868, McPhersonburg, Virginia, married 1889 to Joel Randall Burrow, who later became the Secretary of State of the State of Kansas. Hilda died November 4, 1908 and is buried at Fairview Cemetery, Smith Center, Kansas.
James Monroe Ingalls married a second time on July 17, 1877, New London, Connecticut, to Harriet Elizabeth Thurston, daughter of Benjamin Babcock Thurston, who had been Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
. They had one child, Fanny Thurston Ingalls, who never married.
Ingalls died May 1, 1927 in Providence, Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
, and is buried in Cedar Grove Cemetery, New London, Connecticut
New London, Connecticut
New London is a seaport city and a port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States.It is located at the mouth of the Thames River in New London County, southeastern Connecticut....
.
He was the author of:
- Exterior Ballistics (1883, 1885, 1886)
- Ballistic Machines (1885)
- Handbook of Problems in Exterior Ballistics (1890; 1901)
- Ballistic Tables (1891; 1900)
- Interior Ballistics (1894; third edition, 1912)
- Ballistics for the Instruction of Artillery Gunners (1893)