Derby, George Horatio, 1823-1861

George Horatio Derby was born on April 3, 1823, in Dedham, Massachusetts. He graduated from West Point in 1846 and served as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Topographic Corps. He mapped the San Diego River in 1853 before moving to San Francisco in 1854 to marry Mary A. Coons. While in San Francisco, Derby began writing satiric articles for the San Francisco Herald and California Pioneer Magazine, for which he used the pseudonyms "John P. Squibob" and "John Phoenix." Derby died of a possible brain tumor on May 15, 1861.

From the description of Quit-claim deed for beach lots at La Playa, San Diego, California, 1853, December 10. (Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens). WorldCat record id: 521025316

George Horatio Derby was born on April 3, 1823, in Dedham, Massachusetts. He graduated from West Point in 1846 and served as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Topographic Corps. He mapped the San Diego River in 1853 before moving to San Francisco in 1854 to marry Mary A. Coons. While in San Francisco, Derby began writing satiric articles for the San Francisco Herald and California Pioneer Magazine, for which he used the pseudonyms "John P. Squibob" and "John Phoenix." Derby died of a possible brain tumor on May 15, 1861.

John James Abert was born in Shepherdstown, Virginia, on September 17, 1788. He graduated from West Point in 1811 but immediately resigned his commission and went to work in the War Office. Having re-joined the army during the War of 1812, Abert became a topographical engineer in 1814, became Chief of the Topographical Bureau in Washington, D.C., in 1829, and in 1838 was made colonel in command of the branch of topographical engineers. He retired from the army in 1861 and died in Washington, D.C., on September 27, 1863.

From the description of Letters to John James Abert [facsimiles], 1850-1859. (Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens). WorldCat record id: 662491084