WRIGHT, George

Affiliation:  Union

Born: October 22, 1803, Norwich VT

Died: July 30, 1865, near Crescent City CA

Pre-War Profession: Wright graduated from West Point in 1822 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant of Infantry. 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment on the frontier in Wisconsin and Maine. In 1838 8th US Infantry Regiment on the Canada–US border. In 1844, he fought in Florida against the Seminoles, Mexican–American War, oversaw the construction of Fort Dalles in Oregon Territory.

War Service: Commanding officer of the Department of Oregon. Then, for a few months in 1861, he was the commanding officer of the District of Southern California. In October 1861, he was promoted to brigadier general of Volunteers and placed in command of the Department of the Pacific, replacing Edwin Vose Sumner, on Sumner's recommendation.

Post War: Wright and his wife died at sea en route to his new command when the steamer Brother Jonathan was wrecked off the California coast in 1865.