James Theodore Talbot facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
James Theodore Talbot
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Theodore Talbot
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| Born | December 25, 1825 Washington D.C. |
| Died | April 22, 1862 (aged 36) Washington |
| Buried |
Mount Olivet Cemetery
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| Allegiance | American |
| Unit | Corps of Topographical Engineers |
| Commands held | Company H |
| Battles/wars | Mexican–American War |
| Relations | Isham Talbot and Adelaide Thomason |
| Other work | Officer and explorer |
James Theodore Talbot (born December 25, 1825 – died April 22, 1862) was an American officer and explorer. He lived during the 1800s and was known for his detailed maps and journals. He explored many parts of the American frontier.
Contents
Early Life and Family
James Talbot was born on December 25, 1825. His parents were Isham Talbot and Adelaide Thomason. He was born in Washington D.C..
He spent some of his childhood in Kentucky. There, he went to special boarding schools. When James was twelve, his father passed away. This happened on their family farm in Frankfort, Kentucky. After this, James and his mother moved to a large house in Washington D.C. His father had left this house to them.
Adventures as an Explorer
When James turned eighteen, he joined an important trip. This was John C. Frémont's expedition to the Oregon Territory. His family wanted him to stay in Washington, but James chose to go.
James was part of the Corps of Topographical Engineers. This group had 38 members. Their job was to create detailed and reliable maps of new lands. James helped a lot with this work. His journals were very important. They gave accurate descriptions of the frontier at that time.
He went on a second expedition with Frémont. This was his third big trip overall.
Military Service and Travels
After his expeditions, James was sent to Vera Cruz. He was supposed to serve in the Mexican–American War. However, the war ended before he arrived. He stayed in Vera Cruz for eight months.
Later, he was moved to Fort Columbus on Governors Island, New York. After two months, he was sent to a military base in Oregon. He arrived in Astoria in May 1848.
His job was to survey the coast of Oregon. He did many assignments like this for several years. Sometimes, he had long periods of waiting. In December 1852, he left Oregon. He was then assigned to recruiting duties near Washington, D.C. This lasted from 1853 to 1854.
From 1855 to 1857, he was with the US First Artillery. They were stationed at Fort McHenry, Maryland. After that, they moved to Fort Dallas, Florida. Then they went to Fort Brooke near Tampa.
Command and Final Days
From Florida, James was moved to Company H at Fort Moultrie, South Carolina. There, he was given full command of the company. However, he had to take time off because his health was getting worse.
He was sent to Washington with important messages. These messages were from Major Anderson. They asked for more soldiers to help. On April 8, James returned. He met with Governor Pickens. He asked to go back to his post at Fort Sumter. He also had a letter from Abraham Lincoln. This letter told Robert Anderson to hold out until help arrived. Governor Pickens said no. James was put on a train back to Washington, D.C.
Back in Washington, D.C., he received a new role. He became Assistant Adjutant General. He also served as Chief of Staff for Brigadier General Joseph K. Mansfield. Mansfield was the Military Commander in Washington.
Death
Soon after returning to Washington, James Talbot became very sick. He caught tuberculosis. He passed away on April 22, 1862, when he was 37 years old. James Talbot was buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Washington, D.C.
