Scott, Winfield, major-general, was born in Petersburg,

Va., June 13, 1786. After spending two years in William and

Mary college he studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1806,

and the following year went to Charleston with the intention of

settling there, but before he had fairly entered upon the

practice of his profession, Congress in view of imminent

hostilities with England, passed a bill to enlarge the army and

he obtained a commission as captain of light artillery and

entered upon his career as a soldier. Recruiting a company he

was stationed at Baton Rouge, La., in the division commanded by

Gen. Wilkinson. War having been declared against Great Britain

in June, 1812, Capt. Scott was made a lieutenant-colonel in the

2nd artillery the following month, and was stationed at Black

Rock with two companies of his regiment. Taking part in the

battle of Queenstown heights, the field was at first won under

his direction; but it was finally lost and himself and his

command taken prisoners, from the refusal of the troops at

Lewiston to cross to their assistance. Exchanged in Jan.,

1813, immediately after the capture of York, Upper Canada,

Scott rejoined the army on the frontier as adjutant to Gen.

Dearborn, with the rank of colonel. He took part in the

expedition against Fort George; landed his men in good order

and scaled a steep height in the presence of the enemy,

carrying the position at the point of the bayonet. He served

well in Wilkinson's campaign, was made a brigadier-general in

March, 1814, and immediately thereafter established a camp of;

instruction at Buffalo, where his own and other officers were

drilled into thorough and accurate discipline. He now served a

vigorous and brilliant campaign, being present at the taking of

Fort Erie, winning the battle of Chippewa, and doing good

service at Lundy's lane, where he was twice severely wounded.

For his gallant conduct Scott was brevetted major-general, his

commission dating July 25, 1814, the day of the battle of

Lundy's lane. He also received a gold medal from Congress and

was tendered a position in the cabinet as secretary of war,

which he declined. He led the troops in the Black Hawk war of

1832, and the latter part of the same year went south to

command the national troops at Charleston and elsewhere, during

the nullification excitement, where his prudence, tact, and

discretion, saved the country from what seemed the inevitable

danger of intestine war. In 1835 he was ordered to Florida,

but recalled and employed in the Creek war, and afterward sent

before a court of inquiry, but dismissed with honor. In the

frontier troubles connected with the Canadian rebellion of

1837, and subsequently with the disputes two years later on the

northeastern boundary line, and with the removal of the

Cherokees from Georgia in the 30's, Gen. Scott was efficient,

conciliating and useful, as an officer and negotiator. In

1841, upon the death of Gen. Macomb, Gen. Scott was placed at

the head of the army as general-in-chief, with full rank as

major-general, and upon the outbreak of the war with Mexico he

was ordered thither. The battles of Palo Alto, Resaca de la

Palma, and Monterey having been fought he took the field in

time for the projected capture of Vera Cruz, which he invested

on March 12, 1847, commencing the bombardment on the 22nd. On

the 26th overtures of surrender were made, and ten days later

the army moved on to Mexico, defeated the Mexican army under

Gen. Santa Anna, at Cerro Gordo on April 18; entered Jalapa the

day after; occupied the strong castle and town of La Perote on

the 22nd, and the city of Puebla May 15. Contreras, San

Antonio, and Churubusco, strong fortifications, were each taken

in turn at the point of the bayonet, Molino del Rey and Casa de

Mata, dependencies of Chapultepec, were carried by assault on

Sept. 8, and, after a determined siege of several days a breach

was finally effected in the strong walls of the military

college at the castle of Chapultepec, and the following night

Santa Anna marched out with the small remnant of his army, and

the city of Mexico was at the mercy of Scott. This virtually

ended the war, and the honors bestowed upon the successful

commander by his country were numerous and enthusiastic, and

included a vote of thanks by Congress. In 1848 Gen. Scott was

a candidate for the Whig nomination for the presidency, and in

1852 was nominated, but he was defeated at the election by Gen.

Franklin Pierce. In Feb., 1855, he was brevetted lieutenant-

general, to take rank from March 29, 1847, in commemoration of

his bravery in Mexico. The Civil war found him still in

command of the army, and every inducement was offered him by

the South to join their cause; but his loyalty was proof

against them, and he threw the weight of his well-earned

reputation upon the side of the government. During the early

part of the war Gen. Scott was much in consultation with the

government, and did his best to perform his official duties as

general-in-chief, but he was now too infirm for so colossal a

charge, and on Oct. 31, 1861, he retired from office,

retaining, by special act of Congress, his pay and allowances.

He died at West Point, N.Y., on May 29, 1866.