Alvord, Benjamin, 1813-1884

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Alvord was born in Rutland, Vermont, where he developed an interest in nature. He attended the United States Military Academy and displayed a talent in mathematics. He graduated in 1833.

He was assigned to the 4th U.S. Infantry and participated in the Seminole Wars. He returned to West Point as an assistant professor of mathematics until 1839, when he was again assigned to the 4th Infantry. He spent 21 years of his military career with that regiment.

He was on frontier, garrison, and engineer duty until 1846, when he participated in the military occupation of the new state of Texas. Subsequently, he served during the Mexican–American War, being brevetted successively to captain and major for gallantry in a number of important battles including the Battle of Palo Alto and the Battle of Resaca de la Palma. He served as chief of staff to Major Folliott T. Lally's column on the march from Vera Cruz to Mexico City in 1847. He joined the Aztec Club of 1847 in 1871.

After the Mexican–American War, he went from line to staff when he was named paymaster and promoted to major. He was assigned to various posts and was sent with the 4th Infantry to the West Coast. He was the engineer in charge of building the military road in southern Oregon. He was then chief paymaster in Oregon from 1854 until 1862.

From 1862 to 1865, during the American Civil War, Alvord was at Fort Vancouver as the commander of the District of Oregon with the rank of brigadier general of volunteers. He was named to that post by George Wright, the commanding officer of the Department of the Pacific. Wright wanted an experienced Regular Army officer in that post, rather than a volunteer, since the District was large (encompassing the present-day states of Oregon, Washington, and Idaho), underdeveloped, and had a history of friction between the native peoples and settlers. As commander of the District, Alvord built up the defenses around the mouth of the Columbia River, but was unable to do the same for Puget Sound. Because of low enlistments from Oregon and Washington, he supported the military draft, and failing that, supported the payment of bounties. He was removed from command in March 1865. He was ordered to the East Coast, where he resigned his volunteer commission and became paymaster in New York City. Alvord was interested in the classical problem of Apollonius, to find a circle tangent to three given circles, and the special cases of Apollonius' problem, as well as the generalization to spheres. In 1855 he published in Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge.

Posted to the remote Fort Vancouver, he continued his investigations and submitted his findings in 1860 but was frustrated by a fire. In 1882, when he found that there are 96 circles which cut four given circles at a fixed angle and there are 640 spheres which cut five given spheres at a fixed angle, he assembled all his results for an article in American Journal of Mathematics. where he explained the delay:

All of this memoir, except the last two problems, were completed and sent to the Smithsonian Institute [sic] in January, 1860, from Fort Vancouver, Washington Territory, but the manuscript was burned in January 1865 when the upper story of the Smithsonian building was on fire.

The article is graced with annotations by Arthur Cayley and the concession that Darboux had preceded Alvord in print.

After the war, he subsequently became paymaster of the District of Omaha and paymaster of the Department of the Platte. He became Paymaster General of the Army in 1872 and served in that capacity until his retirement from active service in 1880. He was promoted to brigadier general in 1876.

He also wrote on natural history, writing the first scientific description of the ability of the compass plant (Silphium laciniatum) to orient itself in a north-south direction, as well as writing about winter grazing in the Rocky Mountains. Alvord was a contributor to Harper's Magazine, and a member of the Literary Society of Washington.

He married Emily Louise Mussey in 1846 and they had six children. His son, Benjamin Alvord, Jr., became a soldier and was a general in World War I. His daughter Louise married Thomas Craig, one of the main professors of mathematics at Johns Hopkins University during its first two decades.

He died on October 16, 1884 in Washington, D.C. and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery Section 4, Grave 2215-WS.

Alvord Valley and the Alvord Desert in Oregon were named in his honor.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
contributorOf Record Group 94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984 Series: Letters Received, 1805 - 1889 File Unit: Alvord, Benjamin - California - 1853 - File No. Q14 National Archives at Washington, D.C
referencedIn George, M. C. (Melvin Clark), 1849-1933. Melvin Clark George papers [manuscript], 1882-1933. Oregon Historical Society Research Library
creatorOf Alvord, Benjamin, 1813-1884. Notes, 1878-1879. United States Military Academy, USMA Library
Alvord, Benjamin, 1813-1884. Notes, 1878-1879. United States Military Academy, USMA Library
referencedIn Record Group 94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984 Series: Carded Records Relating to Civil War Staff Officers, 1890 - 1912 File Unit: Alvord, Benjamin - Brigadier General National Archives at Washington, D.C
contributorOf Record Group 94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984 Series: Letters Received, 1863 - 1917 File Unit: Consolidated Military Officer's File of Benjamin Alvord, Oregon, 1865 National Archives at Washington, D.C
referencedIn Lane, Joseph, 1801-1881. Joseph Lane papers, 1848-1875 (bulk 1850-1858). Oregon Historical Society Research Library
contributorOf Record Group 94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984 Series: Letters Received, 1805 - 1889 File Unit: 1884 - File No. 4098 - Alvord, Benjamin - District of Columbia National Archives at Washington, D.C
contributorOf Record Group 94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984 Series: Letters Received, 1805 - 1889 File Unit: Alvord, Benjamin - Florida - 1837 - File No. A77 National Archives at Washington, D.C
creatorOf Alden family. Papers. United States Military Academy, USMA Library
contributorOf Record Group 94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984 Series: Letters Received, 1805 - 1889 File Unit:1879 - File No. 6270 (Alvord, Benjamin - District of Columbia) National Archives at Washington, D.C
contributorOf Record Group 94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984 Series: Letters Received, 1863 - 1917 File Unit: Alvord, Benjamin - State: Nebraska - Year: 1869 National Archives at Washington, D.C
referencedIn Addison Crandall Gibbs Papers, 1858-1886 Oregon Historical Society Research Library
referencedIn Gibbs, A. C. (Addison Crandall), 1825-1886. Addison Crandall Gibbs papers [manuscript}, 1858-1886. Oregon Historical Society Research Library
contributorOf Record Group 94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984 Series: Letters Received, 1805 - 1889 File Unit: Alvord, Benjamin - State: Florida - Year: 1837 - File Number: A77 National Archives at Washington, D.C
referencedIn Joseph Lane papers, 1848-1940, 1850-1858 Oregon Historical Society Research Library
referencedIn John William Draper Family Papers, 1777-1951, (bulk 1860-1882) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
contributorOf Record Group 94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984 Series: Letters Received, 1805 - 1889 File Unit: 1863 - Alvord, Benjamin - File No. P995 National Archives at Washington, D.C
referencedIn John Webster Perit Huntington papers, 1855-1869 Oregon Historical Society Research Library
referencedIn Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States Commandery of the State of Massachusetts Civil War collection, 1724-1933 (inclusive); 1861-1912 (bulk). Houghton Library
referencedIn Record Group 94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984 Series: Letters Received, 1871 - 1894 File Unit: Consolidated Military Officer's File of Major Benjamin Alvord, Paymaster Department National Archives at Washington, D.C
contributorOf Record Group 94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984 Series: Letters Received, 1805 - 1889 File Unit: Alvord, Benjamin - District of Columbia - 1837 - File No. A107 National Archives at Washington, D.C
referencedIn Letters to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, 1761-1904 (inclusive), 1820-1888 (bulk) Houghton Library
creatorOf Alvord, Benjamin, 1813-1884. Benjamin Alvord correspondence, 1874. Library of Congress
contributorOf Record Group 94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984 Series: Letters Received, 1805 - 1889 File Unit: 1863 - Alvord, Benjamin - File No. A497 National Archives at Washington, D.C
referencedIn Philip Case Lockwood memorial collection of Civil War portraits and autographs, 1862-ca. 1886. Houghton Library
creatorOf Alvord, Benjamin, 1813-1884. Benjamin Alvord letter to Reuben F. Maury [manuscript], 1864 February 15. Oregon Historical Society Research Library
creatorOf Benjamin and William Alvord letters, 1861-1912 Oregon Historical Society Research Library
contributorOf Record Group 94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984 Series: Letters Received, 1805 - 1889 File Unit: 1863 - Alvord, Benjamin - File No. P1053 National Archives at Washington, D.C
referencedIn George Brinton McClellan Papers, 1783-1898, (bulk 1850-1885) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
contributorOf Record Group 94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984 Series: Letters Received, 1805 - 1889 File Unit: Alvord, Benjamin - State: New York - Year: 1837 - File Number: A213 National Archives at Washington, D.C
creatorOf Davis, Nelson H., ca. 1821-1890. Autograph letter signed : New York, to General Alvord, 1878 Dec. 20. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Bowen, J., Lieutenant. Map of eastern Oregon and western Idaho / compiled by 2nd Lieut. J. Bowen, 1st Oregon Cavalry Volunteers ; under the orders of Brig. Genl. Benj. Alvord, U.S. Vols. commanding the District of Oregon ; traced by Ordnance Sergt. M.A. Battersby. Oregon Historical Society Research Library
contributorOf Record Group 94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984 Series: Letters Received, 1805 - 1889 File Unit: Alvord, Benjamin - State: [Blank] - Year: 1837 - File Number: A161 National Archives at Washington, D.C
creatorOf Alvord, Benjamin, 1813-1884. Benjamin and William Alvord letters [manuscript], 1861-1912. Oregon Historical Society Research Library
contributorOf Record Group 94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984 Series: Letters Received, 1805 - 1889 File Unit: Alvord, Benjamin - Florida - 1837 - File No. A161 National Archives at Washington, D.C
contributorOf Record Group 94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984 Series: Letters Received, 1805 - 1889 File Unit: Alvord, Benjamin - District of Columbia - 1854 - File No. A123 National Archives at Washington, D.C
referencedIn Autograph File, A, 1518-2002. Houghton Library
referencedIn Maury, Reuben F., 1821-1906. Reuben F. Maury papers [manuscript], 1856-1864. Oregon Historical Society Research Library
contributorOf Record Group 94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984 Series: Letters Received, 1805 - 1889 File Unit: Alvord, Benjamin - State: [Blank] - Year: 1837 - File Number: A107 National Archives at Washington, D.C
creatorOf Benjamin Alvord letter to Reuben F. Maury, 1864 February 15 Oregon Historical Society Research Library
referencedIn Evarts family papers, 1753-1960 (bulk 1798-1901) Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
referencedIn Huntington, John Webster Perit, 1831-1869. John Webster Perit Huntington papers, 1855-1869. Oregon Historical Society Research Library
contributorOf Record Group 94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984 Series: Letters Received, 1805 - 1889 File Unit: Alvord, Benjamin - State: [Blank] - Year: 1833 - File Number: A123 National Archives at Washington, D.C
referencedIn Garrett, Isaiah, 1812-1874. Isaiah Garrett letter, 1835 Mar. 12. Louisiana State University, LSU Libraries
creatorOf Alvord, Benjamin, 1813-1884. Benjamin Alvord letter to Melvin Clark George [manuscript], 1882 March 7. Oregon Historical Society Research Library
contributorOf Record Group 94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984 Series: Letters Received, 1805 - 1889 File Unit: Alvord, Benjamin - New York - 1837 - File No. A213 National Archives at Washington, D.C
contributorOf Record Group 94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984 Series: Letters Received, 1805 - 1889 File Unit: 1873 - File No. 3850 (Alvord, Benjamin - District of Columbia) National Archives at Washington, D.C
Record Group 94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984 Series: Letters Received, 1805 - 1889 File Unit: 1862 - Alvord, Benjamin - File No. A303 National Archives at Washington, D.C
contributorOf Record Group 94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984 Series: Letters Received, 1805 - 1889 File Unit: Alvord, Benjamin - State: [Blank] - Year: 1837 - File Number: A70 National Archives at Washington, D.C
contributorOf Record Group 94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984 Series: Letters Received, 1805 - 1889 File Unit: 1877 - File No. 2139 (Alvord, Benj - District of Columbia) National Archives at Washington, D.C
creatorOf French, J. W. (John William), 1810?-1871. Papers. United States Military Academy, USMA Library
contributorOf Record Group 94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984 Series: Letters Received, 1805 - 1889 File Unit: Alvord, Benjamin - District of Columbia - 1837 - File No. A70 National Archives at Washington, D.C
contributorOf Record Group 94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984 Series: Letters Received, 1805 - 1889 File Unit: Alvord, Benjamin - Vermont - 1833 - File No. A123 National Archives at Washington, D.C
contributorOf Record Group 94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984 Series: Letters Received, 1805 - 1889 File Unit: 1862 - Alvord, Benjamin - File No. A100 National Archives at Washington, D.C
contributorOf Record Group 94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984 Series: Letters Received, 1805 - 1889 File Unit: 1861 - Alvord, Benjamin - File No. A493 National Archives at Washington, D.C
referencedIn Frederick M. Dearborn collection of military and political Americana, Part III: The Civil War: The Union, 1804-1915. Houghton Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Alden family. family
correspondedWith Alvord, Benjamin, family
correspondedWith Alvord, Benjamin, family
correspondedWith Alvord, William C. person
correspondedWith Alvord, William C. family
associatedWith Bowen, J., Lieutenant. person
associatedWith Davis, Nelson H., ca. 1821-1890. person
associatedWith Dearborn, Frederick M. (Frederick Myers), b. 1876 person
correspondedWith Draper, John C. (John Christopher), 1835-1885 person
correspondedWith Draper, John William, 1811-1882. person
associatedWith Evarts family family
associatedWith Evarts family. family
associatedWith French, J. W. (John William), 1810?-1871. person
correspondedWith Garfield, James A. family
correspondedWith Garfield, James A. (James Abram), 1831-1881 person
associatedWith Garrett, Isaiah, 1812-1874. person
correspondedWith George, M. C. (Melvin Clark), 1849-1933 person
correspondedWith Gibbs, A. C. (Addison Crandall), 1825-1886. person
correspondedWith Huntington, John Webster Perit, 1831-1869 person
correspondedWith Huntington, John Webster Perit, 1831-1869. person
correspondedWith Lane, Joseph, 1801-1881. person
associatedWith Lockwood, Philip Case, 1844-1897 person
correspondedWith Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth, 1807-1882 person
correspondedWith Maury, Reuben F., family
correspondedWith Maury, Reuben F., 1821-1906 person
correspondedWith McClellan, George Brinton, 1826-1885. person
associatedWith Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States. Commandery of the State of Massachusetts, collector. corporateBody
correspondedWith Pickett, George E. family
correspondedWith Pickett, George E. (George Edward), 1825-1875 person
memberOf United States. Army. Infantry Regiment, 4th corporateBody
leaderOf United States. Army. Paymaster-General. corporateBody
alumnusOrAlumnaOf United States Military Academy corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Fort Vancouver National Historical Site WA US
New York City NY US
West Point NY US
District of Columbia DC US
Florida FL US
Mexico 00 MX
Rutland VT US
Subject
Cartography
Civil War, 1861-1865
Generals
Generals
Mexican War, 1846-1848
Military
Oregon
Palo Alto, Battle of, Tex., 1846
Republican Party (U.S. : 1854-)
Resaca de la Palma, Battle of, Tex., 1846
Seminole War, 2nd, 1835-1842
Occupation
Army officers
Authors
Professors (teacher)
Soldiers
Activity

Person

Birth 1813-08-18

Death 1884-10-16

Male

Americans

English

Information

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