Peter John Sullivan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Peter John Sullivan
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|---|---|
| Born | March 15, 1821 Cork, Ireland |
| Died | March 2, 1883 (aged 61) Cincinnati, Ohio |
| Place of burial |
Spring Grove Cemetery, Cincinnati, Ohio
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| Allegiance | United States of America Union |
| Service/ |
United States Army Union Army |
| Years of service | 1861 - 1863 |
| Rank |  Colonel Brevet Brigadier General |
| Commands held | 48th Ohio Infantry |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
Peter John Sullivan (March 15, 1821 – March 2, 1883) was an Irish-American soldier and lawyer. He later became a United States Ambassador to Colombia.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Peter John Sullivan was born on March 15, 1821, in Cork, Ireland. When he was two years old, his parents brought him to Philadelphia, in the United States. He received his education at the University of Pennsylvania.
Serving His Country
The Mexican-American War
Peter Sullivan served in the Mexican–American War. This war took place from 1846 to 1848. For his excellent service, he earned the honorary rank of major. This type of rank is called a "brevet."
The Civil War Hero
After his military service, Peter Sullivan worked for a time as a stenographer for the U.S. Senate. A stenographer is someone who writes down spoken words very quickly. In 1848, he moved to Cincinnati, Ohio. There, he became a lawyer. He also spoke out against certain political ideas of his time.
When the American Civil War began, Peter Sullivan helped organize several volunteer army groups in Ohio. He became a colonel and led the 48th Ohio Infantry regiment. He was badly hurt during the Battle of Shiloh. Because of his injuries, he had to leave the army on August 7, 1863.
Later, on December 11, 1866, President Andrew Johnson gave Peter Sullivan another honorary rank. He was made a brevet brigadier general of volunteers. The U.S. Senate approved this on February 6, 1867.
Diplomat and Later Years
In 1867, Peter Sullivan was chosen to be the U.S. Minister to Colombia. This meant he was a diplomat, representing the United States in that country. He held this important job until 1869. After that, he returned to working as a lawyer.
Peter John Sullivan passed away in Cincinnati on March 2, 1883. He was buried in Spring Grove Cemetery.
