Peter John Sullivan
Encyclopedia
Peter John Sullivan was an Irish-American soldier and lawyer, who became United States Ambassador to Colombia
.
. He served in the Mexican-American War, and received the brevet
of major
for meritorious services.
After retiring to civil life he became one of the official stenographers of the U.S. Senate, and in 1848 went to live in Cincinnati, where he was admitted to the bar. He was prominent there as an opponent of the Know-nothing movement.
During the American Civil War
, Peter John Sullivan took a very active part in organizing several Ohio volunteer regiments and went to the scene of action as colonel
of the 48th Ohio Infantry
. He was severely wounded at the Battle of Shiloh
. His injuries would force him to resign on August 7, 1863. On December 11, 1866, President
Andrew Johnson
nominated Sullivan for appointment to the brevet
grade of brigadier general
of volunteers to rank from March 13, 1865 and the U.S. Senate confirmed the appointment on February 6, 1867.
In 1867, Sullivan was appointed U.S. Minister to Colombia
and held that office until 1869. He then returned to the practice of the law.
Peter John Sullivan died at Cincinnati, Ohio on March 2, 1883 and was buried in Spring Grove Cemetery, Cincinnati.
United States Ambassador to Colombia
The following is a list of Ambassadors of the United States, or other chiefs of mission, to Colombia and its predecessor states. The title given by the United States State Department to this position is currently Ambassador Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary.- Gran Colombia:The following...
.
Life
Peter John Sullivan was born March 15, 1821 at Cork, Ireland. Sullivan's parents brought him to Philadelphia when he was two years old, and he received his education at the University of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
. He served in the Mexican-American War, and received the brevet
Brevet (military)
In many of the world's military establishments, brevet referred to a warrant authorizing a commissioned officer to hold a higher rank temporarily, but usually without receiving the pay of that higher rank except when actually serving in that role. An officer so promoted may be referred to as being...
of major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
for meritorious services.
After retiring to civil life he became one of the official stenographers of the U.S. Senate, and in 1848 went to live in Cincinnati, where he was admitted to the bar. He was prominent there as an opponent of the Know-nothing movement.
During the American 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...
, Peter John Sullivan took a very active part in organizing several Ohio volunteer regiments and went to the scene of action as colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
of the 48th Ohio Infantry
48th Ohio Infantry
The 48th Ohio Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 48th Ohio Infantry was organized at Camp Dennison near Cincinnati, Ohio September through December 1861 and mustered in February 17, 1862 for three years service under the command...
. He was severely wounded at the Battle of Shiloh
Battle of Shiloh
The Battle of Shiloh, also known as the Battle of Pittsburg Landing, was a major battle in the Western Theater of the American Civil War, fought April 6–7, 1862, in southwestern Tennessee. A Union army under Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant had moved via the Tennessee River deep into Tennessee and...
. His injuries would force him to resign on August 7, 1863. On December 11, 1866, President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson was the 17th President of the United States . As Vice-President of the United States in 1865, he succeeded Abraham Lincoln following the latter's assassination. Johnson then presided over the initial and contentious Reconstruction era of the United States following the American...
nominated Sullivan for appointment to the brevet
Brevet (military)
In many of the world's military establishments, brevet referred to a warrant authorizing a commissioned officer to hold a higher rank temporarily, but usually without receiving the pay of that higher rank except when actually serving in that role. An officer so promoted may be referred to as being...
grade of brigadier general
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
of volunteers to rank from March 13, 1865 and the U.S. Senate confirmed the appointment on February 6, 1867.
In 1867, Sullivan was appointed U.S. Minister to Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
and held that office until 1869. He then returned to the practice of the law.
Peter John Sullivan died at Cincinnati, Ohio on March 2, 1883 and was buried in Spring Grove Cemetery, Cincinnati.
See also
- List of American Civil War generals