John Armstrong, Jr. (November 25, 1758 - April 1, 1843) was an American soldier and statesman who was a delegate to the Continental Congress, U.S. Senator from New York, and Secretary of War. November 25 is the 329th (in leap years the 330th) day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1758 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... April 1 is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 274 days remaining. ... 1843 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... The Continental Congress is the label given to three successive bodies of representatives: The First Continental Congress met from September 5, 1774 to October 26, 1774. ... Seal of the Senate The United States Senate is one of the two chambers of the Congress of the United States, the other being the House of Representatives. ... Official language(s) English Capital Albany Largest city New York City Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 27th 141,205 km² 455 km 530 km 13. ... The Secretary of War was a member of the Presidents Cabinet, beginning with George Washingtons administration. ...

John Jr. was the son of Dr. John Armstrong and Rebecca (Lyon) Armstrong and was born in Carlisle, Pennsylvania in 1758. After early education in Carlisle he studied at the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University). He broke off his studies in Princeton in 1775 to return to Pennsylvania and join the fight in the Revolutionary War. John Armstrong (1717-1795) was an American civil engineer and soldier who served as a major general in the Revolutionary War. ... Motto: Nickname: Map [[Image:|px|Location of Carlisle, Pennsylvania]] Political Statistics Founded 1751 Incorporated 1782 County Cumberland County Borough {{{borough}}} Parrish {{{parrish}}} Mayor Geographic Statistics Area  - Total  - Water 14. ... 1758 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Princeton University, incorporated as The Trustees of Princeton University, located in Princeton, New Jersey, is the fourth-oldest institution to conduct higher education in the United States. ... Princeton, New Jersey is the name of a section of Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. ... 1775 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Combatants American Revolutionaries, France,Netherlands, allies British Empire, allies Commanders George Washington Comte de Rochambeau Nathanael Greene William Howe Henry Clinton Charles Cornwallis Strength {{{strength1}}} {{{strength2}}} Casualties {{{casualties1}}} {{{casualties2}}} The American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), also known as the American War for Independence, was the military side of the American...

Revolutionary War

The Young Armstrong joined a Pennsylvania militia regiment, but the following year became an aide to General Hugh Mercer in the Continental Army. In this role, he carried to wounded and dying General Mercer from the field at the Battle of Princeton. After the general died on January 12, 1777, Armstrong became an aide to General Horatio Gates. He stayed with Gates through the Battle of Saratoga then resigned due to problems with his health. In 1782 Gates asked him to return. Armstong joined General Gates' staff as an aide with the rank of Major which he held through the rest of the war. Hugh Mercer (sketched by John Trumbull). ... The Continental Army was the unified command structure of the thirteen colonies fighting Great Britain during the American Revolutionary War. ... The Battle of Princeton was a battle of the American Revolutionary War, fought near Princeton, New Jersey on January 3, 1777. ... January 12 is the 12th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1777 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Horatio Gates Horatio Gates (1726-1806) was an American general during the Revolutionary War. ... Combatants British United States Commanders John Burgoyne Horatio Gates Strength 10,000 15,000 Casualties 1,600 killed, wounded and missing, 6,000 captured 800 killed, wounded and missing {{{notes}}} The Battle(s) of Saratoga were considered by many historians to have been the turning point of the American Revolutionary... 1782 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ...

Newburgh Letters

While in camp with Gates at Newburgh, New York, Armstrong became involved in the Newburgh Conspiracy. He is generally acknowledged as the author of the two anonymous letters directed at the officers in the camp. The first (dated March 10, 1783) was titled An Address to the Officers and called for a meeting to discuss back pay and other grievances with the Congress and form a plan of action. After General Washington ordered the meeting canceled, and called for a milder meeting on March 15th, a second address appeared which claimed that this showed that Washington supported their actions. Newburgh is both a city and a town in Orange County, New York. ... The Newburgh Conspiracy was a plot hatched in 1783 by officers in the Continental Army to oust Congress in a coup and set up a military dictatorship. ... March 10 is the 69th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (70th in Leap years). ... 1783 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... The Continental Congress is the label given to three successive bodies of representatives: The First Continental Congress met from September 5, 1774 to October 26, 1774. ... George Washington (February 22, 1732 – December 14, 1799) was the successful Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), and later became the first President of the United States, an office to which he was elected, unanimously, twice (1789-1797). ...

Washington successfully defused this protest without a mutiny. While some of Armstrong's later correspondence acknowledged his role, there was never any official action that connected him with the anonymous letters.

After the revolution

Later in 1783 Armstrong returned home to Carlisle. He was named the Adjutant General of Pennsylvania's militia and also served as Secretary of State for Pennsylvania under Presidents Dickinson and Franklin. In 1787 and 1788 he was sent as a delegate for Pennsylvania to the Continental Congress. The Congress offered to make him chief justice of the Northwest Territory. He declined this, as well as all other public offices for the next dozen years. 1783 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... John Dickinson (November 8, 1732 – February 14, 1808) was an American lawyer and politician from Jones Neck in St. ... Benjamin Franklin by Jean-Baptiste Greuze 1777 Benjamin Franklin (January 17 [O.S. January 6] 1706 – April 17, 1790) was one of the most prominent of Founders and early political figures and statesmen of the United States. ... 1787 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... 1788 was a leap year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... The Continental Congress is the label given to three successive bodies of representatives: The First Continental Congress met from September 5, 1774 to October 26, 1774. ... The Northwest Territory, also known as the Old Northwest and the Territory North West of the Ohio, was a government and region within the early United States. ...

In 1789 Armstrong married Alida Livingston of the New York political family, and the sister of Robert Livingston. He moved to New York and took up life as a gentleman farmer on a farm purchased from her family in Dutchess County. 1789 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Livingston is a name shared by various towns and places: Livingston, Scotland, United Kingdom Livingston, Guatemala, port town in Izabal province of Guatemala And many in the United States of America: Livingston, Alabama Livingston, California Livingston, Illinois Livingston, Kentucky Livingston, Louisiana Livingston, Montana Livingston, New Jersey Livingston, New York Livingston... Robert R. Livingston (November 27, 1746 – February 26, 1813), of New York, was a delegate to the New York state constitutional convention and a member of the committee that drafted the Declaration of Independence, although he was recalled by his state before he could sign it. ... Official language(s) English Capital Albany Largest city New York City Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 27th 141,205 km² 455 km 530 km 13. ... Location in the state of New York Formed 1683 Seat Poughkeepsie Area  - Total  - Water 2,138 km² (825 mi²) 62 km² (24 mi²) 2. ...

Armstrong resumed public life in August of 1800 when John Laurance resigned from the United States Senate. Placed on the ballot as a Jefferson Republican he was elected to term ending in 1802. That year he was re-elected for a full term, but served only until February 5, 1802 when he resigned.-1... John Laurance (1750 – November 11, 1810) was an American lawyer, statesman, and speculator from New York. ... Seal of the Senate The United States Senate is one of the two chambers of the Congress of the United States, the other being the House of Representatives. ... The factual accuracy of this article is disputed. ... --69. ... February 5 is the 36th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... --69. ...

Armstrong was returned to the Senate in 1804 after Theodorus Bailey resigned, but served only four months before President Jefferson named him minister to France. He served in that post until 1810, and also represented the United States at the court of Spain in 1806. 1804 was a leap year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Theodorus Bailey (October 12, 1758– September 6, 1828) was an American lawyer and politician from Poughkeepsie, New York. ... Thomas Jefferson (April 13, 1743 N.S. – July 4, 1826) was the third President of the United States (1801–1809), author of the United States Declaration of Independence (1776), and one of the most influential Founders of the United States. ... 1810 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... 1806 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ...

When the War of 1812 broke out, Armstrong was called to military service. He was commissioned as a Brigadier General, and placed in charge of the defenses for the port of New York. Then in 1813 President Madison named him Secretary of War. He made a number of valuable changes to the armed forces, but was forced to resign in September of 1814 after he was blamed for the Burning of Washington in August. The War of 1812 was fought between the United States and British Empire from 1812 to 1815, on land in North America and at sea around the world. ... New York City portal The Empire State Building (right) and the Chrysler Building (left) are easily recognized symbols of New York City to the world. ... 1813 is a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... James Madison (March 16, 1751 – June 28, 1836) was the fourth (1809–1817) President of the United States. ... The Secretary of War was a member of the Presidents Cabinet, beginning with George Washingtons administration. ... 1814 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... Combatants Britain United States Commanders Robert Ross George Cockburn Unknown Strength 4,250 Unknown Casualties {{{notes}}} The Burning of Washington is the name given to the razing of Washington, D.C., by British and Canadian forces during the War of 1812. ...

Later life

Armstrong returned to his farm and resumed a quiet life. He published a number of histores, biographies, and some woks on agriculture. He died at home in Red Hook, New York in 1843 and is buried in the cemetery in Rhinebeck. Red Hook is also a location in Kings County, New York. ... 1843 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Rhinebeck is a town located in Dutchess County, New York. ...

Armstrong's farm in Dutchess County is still operating (and owned by the Livingston family). The home he completed in 1811 has a New York state educational marker on County Road 103.

Further reading

• Skeen, Carl E.; John Armstrong, Jr., 1758-1843: A Biography; 1982, Syracuse Univ Press; ISBN 0815622422.

External link

• Armstrong’s Congressional biography