J. R. West facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
J. R. West
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| United States Senator from Louisiana |
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| In office March 4, 1871 – March 3, 1877 |
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| Preceded by | John S. Harris |
| Succeeded by | William P. Kellogg |
| 3rd President of the Board of Commissioners of Washington, D.C. | |
| In office July 17, 1882 – March 29, 1883 |
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| Preceded by | Josiah Dent |
| Succeeded by | James Barker Edmonds |
| Member of the Board of Commissioners of Washington, D.C. | |
| In office July 17, 1882 – July 22, 1885 |
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| President | Chester A. Arthur Grover Cleveland |
| Preceded by | Josiah Dent |
| Succeeded by | William Benning Webb |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Joseph Rodman West
September 19, 1822 New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Died | October 31, 1898 (aged 76) Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Resting place | Arlington National Cemetery |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Jeanne J. West |
| Alma mater | University of Pennsylvania |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | United States Army Union Army |
| Rank |  Brigadier General Brevet Major General |
| Battles/wars | Mexican–American War American Civil War |
Joseph Rodman West (born September 19, 1822 – died October 31, 1898) was an important figure in American history. He served as a United States senator for Louisiana, a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War, and a leader in Washington, D.C.. However, his legacy also includes a controversial event involving Apache chief Mangas Coloradas. This event later led to a school named after him being renamed.
Contents
Who Was Joseph Rodman West?
Joseph Rodman West, also known as J. Rodman West, had a long career in both military and political service. He was involved in several key moments in American history, from wars to the rebuilding of the country.
Early Life and Military Service
Joseph Rodman West was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1822. When he was two years old, his family moved to Philadelphia. There, he attended private schools and later studied at the University of Pennsylvania for a year. In 1841, he returned to New Orleans.
Serving in the Mexican-American War
West began his military career as a captain during the Mexican–American War. He served with volunteers from Maryland and Washington, D.C., from 1847 to 1848. After the war, in 1849, he moved to California. In California, he worked in the newspaper business in San Francisco.
Role in the Civil War
When the American Civil War began in 1861, West joined the Union Army. He started as a lieutenant in the First Regiment, California Volunteer Infantry. He quickly rose through the ranks, becoming a colonel and then a brigadier general. Much of his service was in the New Mexico Territory and Arizona Territory.
In January 1863, Apache chief Mangas Coloradas came to meet with General West at Fort McLane under a flag of truce. Sadly, during this meeting, Mangas Coloradas was taken into custody and later died. This event became a very controversial part of West's military record.
Later in the Civil War, in April 1864, West was sent to Arkansas. He commanded the 2nd Division, VII Corps, during the Red River Campaign. He also fought against Confederate forces in the fall of 1864. After the war ended, he commanded cavalry units in the Department of the Gulf.
In July 1865, West led a cavalry division from Shreveport, Louisiana, to San Antonio, Texas. This mission was part of the Reconstruction efforts after the Civil War. He was officially discharged from volunteer service as a major general in January 1866.
After the War: Politics and Public Service
After his military career, Joseph Rodman West returned to New Orleans. He worked as a deputy United States marshal and an auditor for customs from 1867 to 1871.
Senator for Louisiana
In 1871, West was elected as a Republican to the United States Senate. He represented Louisiana from March 4, 1871, to March 3, 1877. During his time as a senator, he chaired the Committee on Railroads. He chose not to run for reelection.
Leading Washington, D.C.
After his time in the Senate, West continued in public service. He became a member of the board of commissioners for the District of Columbia from 1882 to 1885. For part of this period, from 1882 to 1883, he served as the president of the board. This role was similar to being the mayor of Washington, D.C. He retired from public life in 1885. Joseph Rodman West passed away in Washington, D.C., in 1898 and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
A School Renamed
For many years, a school in Washington, D.C., was named the West Education Campus in his honor. However, in 2021, the school was renamed John Lewis Elementary School. This change honored the civil rights leader John Lewis. Mayor Muriel Bowser explained that the renaming was due to West's controversial actions as a commander, specifically mentioning the incident with Apache chief Mangas Coloradas.
See Also
- List of American Civil War generals (Union)
