Egbert Ludovicus Viele facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Egbert Ludovicus Viele
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Egbert Ludovicus Viele
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| Born | June 17, 1825 Waterford, New York |
| Died | April 22, 1902 (aged 76) New York City, New York |
| Place of burial |
West Point Cemetery
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| Allegiance | United States of America Union |
| Service/ |
United States Army Union Army |
| Years of service | 1847–1853, 1861–1863 |
| Rank |  Brigadier General |
| Unit | 2nd U.S. Infantry Regiment 7th New York Militia |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
Egbert Ludovicus Viele (Vee-lee) (June 17, 1825 – April 22, 1902) was a very important American. He was a skilled civil engineer. This means he designed and built large projects like roads and parks. He also served as a United States Representative for New York. During the American Civil War, he was an officer in the Union army.
Contents
Early Life and Military Service
Egbert Viele was born in Waterford, New York. His father, John L. Viele, was a State Senator. Egbert was a very bright student. He graduated with honors from The Albany Academy. After studying law for a short time, he joined the West Point military academy.
He graduated from West Point on July 1, 1847. He became a junior officer, a brevet second lieutenant. He then served in the Mexican–American War. Later, he helped set up a military camp in Laredo, Texas. This camp was called "Camp Crawford." He was promoted to first lieutenant in 1850. In 1853, he left the army to become a civil engineer.
Designing Parks and More
In 1855, Viele became the State Engineer of New Jersey. He was asked to map the land of the state. He also mapped the area that would become Central Park in New York City. He even submitted his own design for the park.
However, a competition was held for the park's design. The winning plan was called the "Greensward Plan." It was created by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux. Even though his design wasn't chosen, Viele was still important. He became the chief engineer of Central Park in 1856. In 1860, he also became the engineer for Prospect Park in New York City.
Civil War Contributions
When the American Civil War began, Viele returned to military service. He became a captain in the Engineer Corps. On August 17, 1861, he was made a Brigadier General. He led soldiers on the Savannah River. This was during the Siege of Fort Pulaski. In 1862, he was made the Military Governor of Norfolk, Virginia. He left the army again on October 20, 1863. He wanted to go back to his work as a civil engineer.
The Famous Viele Map
Viele created a very important map. It was called a "Sanitary & Topographical Map of the City and Island of New York." It was first published in 1865. Today, it is simply known as the "Viele Map."
This map shows the original streams, marshes, and coastline of New York City. It shows them underneath the city's street grid. Even today, engineers use this map. They use it to design the foundations for new buildings in the city. It helps them understand the land beneath the city.
Later Life and Legacy
After the war, Viele continued his engineering work. In 1867, he was the chief engineer for a railroad project. From 1883 to 1884, he was a park commissioner for New York City. He helped manage the city's parks.
In 1885, Viele was elected to the United States Congress. He served as a Representative for New York until 1887. After his time in Congress, he went back to engineering and writing.
Egbert Viele passed away in New York City at age 77. He is buried at West Point Cemetery in New York. His grave is a unique pyramid-shaped mausoleum. It is guarded by two sphinx statues. There is a famous story about his burial. He supposedly had a buzzer installed in his coffin. This buzzer was connected to the West Point Superintendent's house. It was a way to signal if he had been buried by mistake while still alive!
Family Life
Egbert Viele married Teresa Griffin in 1850. They had several children together. Some of their children became writers. These included Francis Viélé-Griffin, Herman Knickerbocker Vielé, and Emily Vielé Strother. Egbert and Teresa later divorced in 1872. He then married Juliette Dana.
