William Kerley Strong facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William Kerley Strong
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| Born | April 30, 1805 Duanesburg, New York |
| Died | March 16, 1867 (aged 61) New York |
| Allegiance | United States of America Union |
| Service/ |
United States Army, Union Army |
| Years of service | 1861–1863 |
| Rank |  Brigadier General |
| Spouse(s) | Helen Mary Hart |
| Children | John Lorimer |
| Other work | merchant |
William Kerley Strong (1805-1867) was an important person during the American Civil War. He was a successful merchant and later became a brigadier general in the Union Army. Strong was known for leading military bases like Benton Barracks and areas such as Cairo and St. Louis. He was also a strong supporter of the Democratic Party and gave many speeches supporting the Union.
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Early Life and Family
William Kerley Strong was born on April 30, 1805. His hometown was Duanesburg, New York. His parents were Josiah Strong and Martha Green.
William's father, Josiah, was a brave soldier. He fought in the American Revolutionary War. Josiah was part of the army that famously crossed the Delaware River. They did this during a terrible storm to capture Trenton, New Jersey. In that battle, the army captured about 1,000 Hessian soldiers.
Strong became a very rich wool merchant in New York. He married Helen Mary Hart. Together, they had one son named John Lorimer.
Rose Hill Mansion
In 1839, Strong built a very large and beautiful house. It was called Rose Hill Mansion. The house was designed in the Empire style. This style was popular during the Greek Revival period.
The mansion had a huge living space, covering 11,634 square feet. In 1850, Strong sold the property to Robert Swan. A newspaper at the time said that Swan's father bought it for him as a wedding gift. Today, Rose Hill Mansion is a national historic landmark.
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Military Service in the Civil War
When the Civil War began, William Kerley Strong was traveling in Egypt. On his way back home, he helped the Union by getting weapons from France. People said that his speeches supporting the Union caught the attention of Abraham Lincoln.
President Lincoln then made Strong a brigadier general. He was not sent to fight on the battlefield. Instead, he was put in charge of Benton Barracks in Missouri. This was an important military base.
In 1862, Strong became the commander of the Cairo, Illinois, district. He took over from General Eleazar A. Paine. General Paine had been removed for not following orders. Strong was later sent to New York for a special mission. From June to October 1863, he commanded the district of St. Louis. He officially left the army on October 20, 1863.
Strong also led a group that looked into why Union forces left New Madrid, Missouri. This group investigated the situation.
Later Life and Death
After the Civil War ended, William Kerley Strong lived in New York. He started a business and hired Black workers.
William Kerley Strong died on March 16, 1867. He had been in an accident. He was thrown from his carriage and never fully recovered from his injuries.
