Delafield, Richard, 1798-1873

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Richard Delafield was born in New York City on September 1, 1798. He was one of the 14 children of John and Anne (née Hallett) Delafield. His father had emigrated to New York from England in 1788 and made a fortune as a merchant. Edward Delafield, a prominent American physician, Joseph Delafield, a lawyer and diplomant, and Rufus King Delafield, a banker and manufacturer, were among his brothers.

He was the first graduate of the United States Military Academy to receive a merit class standing, ranking first in the class of 1818. During his time at West Point he also became the first cadet teacher detailed as acting assistant professor of mathematics in 1815.

Commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Corps of Engineers, he served as topographical draftsman for the American Boundary Commission, along with his brother Joseph Delafield. The commission established the northern boundary between the United States and Canada under the Treaty of Ghent.

Delafield served as assistant engineer in the construction of Hampton Roads defenses from 1819 to 1824 and was in charge of fortifications and surveys in the Mississippi River delta area in 1824–1832. While superintendent of repair work on the Cumberland Road east of the Ohio River, he designed and built Dunlap's Creek Bridge in Brownsville, Pennsylvania, the first cast-iron tubular-arch bridge in the United States. Commissioned a major of engineers in July 1838, he was appointed superintendent of the Military Academy after the fire of 1838 and served till 1845. He designed the new buildings and the new cadet uniform that first displayed the castle insignia. He superintended the construction of coast defenses for New York Harbor from 1846 to 1855.

In the beginning of 1855, Delafield was appointed by the Secretary of War, Jefferson Davis a head of the board of officers, later called The Delafield Commission, and sent to Europe to study the European military. The board included Captain George B. McClellan and Major Alfred Mordecai. They inspected the state of the military in Great Britain, Germany, the Austrian Empire, France, Belgium, and Russia, and served as military observers during the Crimean War. After his return in April 1856, Delafield submitted a report which was later published as a book by Congress, Report on the Art of War in Europe in 1854, 1855, and 1856. The book was suppressed during the American Civil War due to fears that it would be instructive to Confederate engineers as it contained multiple drawings and descriptions of military fortifications.

Delafield served as superintendent of the Military Academy again in 1856–1861. In January 1861, he was succeeded by Captain Pierre G. T. Beauregard, who was dismissed shortly after Beauregard's home state of Louisiana seceded from the Union, and Delafield returned as superintendent serving until March 1, 1861. In the beginning of the Civil War he advised the governor of New York Edwin D. Morgan during the volunteer force creation. Then, in 1861–1864, he was put in charge of New York Harbor defenses, including Governors Island and Fort at Sandy Hook. On May 19, 1864, he was commissioned a brigadier-general after replacing Joseph Gilbert Totten, who had died, as the Chief of Engineers, United States Army Corps of Engineers, on April 22, 1864. He stayed in charge of the Bureau of Engineers of the War Department until his retirement on August 8, 1866. On March 8, 1866, President Andrew Johnson nominated Delafield for appointment to the grade of brevet major general in the Regular Army of the United States, to rank from March 13, 1865, and the United States Senate confirmed the appointment on May 4, 1866 and reconfirmed it due to a technicality on July 14, 1866.

After retirement Delafield served as a regent of the Smithsonian Institution and a member of the Lighthouse Board. He died in Washington, D.C. on November 5, 1873. The Secretary of War ordered that 13 guns be fired in his memory at West Point. He is buried at Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Smithsonian Archives. Ru 305: U.S. National Museum Accession Records.
creatorOf Duane, James C. Letterbooks of J.C. Duane, 1864-1865. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn National Archives And Records Administration. Rg 46: United States Senate.
creatorOf Delafield, Richard, 1798-1873. Plan of a field work designed for the defence of a depot at Brownsville, Texas / in comformity with the orders of the War Department communicated to Genl P.F. Smith, commanding the 8th Military Department, to whom it is now respectully submitted ; by Richd Delafield, Maj. of Engineers ; approved . Persifor F. Smith. Elmer Holmes Bobst Library
referencedIn Smithsonian Archives. William Jones Rhees Collection.
creatorOf Lighthouse Plans for Tompkinsville Depot, New York United States. National Archives and Records Administration
creatorOf Waggaman, George G., 1816-1884. Letter, 1840 March 25, West Point, N.Y. [to] Major R. Delafield. United States Military Academy, USMA Library
creatorOf Delafield, Richard, 1798-1873. Survey of Ringgold Barracks made geometrically in October 1853 ... / by Richard Delafield, Maj. of Engineers ; measurements by Serjeant Foster ... [et al.]. Elmer Holmes Bobst Library
referencedIn Princeton University Library, Mudd Ms. Lib, Univ. Archives. John Maclean Papers.
referencedIn Consolidated Military Officer's File of General Richard Delafield United States. National Archives and Records Administration
creatorOf Delafield, Richard, 1798-1873. [Map of an area between the cities of Laredo and Eagle Pass along the left bank of the Rio Grande]. Elmer Holmes Bobst Library
referencedIn Smithsonian Institution. Office of the Secretary. Correspondence, 1865-1891 Smithsonian Institution Archives
creatorOf Delafield, Richard, 1798-1873. Survey of a position on the Rio Grande opposite the mouth of the Escondida, made to ascertain its suitability for a defensive depot for the Mexican and Indian Frontier / by Richd Delafield. New-York Historical Society
referencedIn Smithsonian Institution. Office of the Secretary. Correspondence, 1863-1879 Smithsonian Institution Archives
creatorOf Bartlett, William Holmes Chambers, 1804-1893. Report on the observations of Europe, 1841. United States Military Academy, USMA Library
creatorOf French, J. W. (John William), 1810?-1871. Papers. United States Military Academy, USMA Library
referencedIn Records of the U.S. Coast Guard. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Palfrey family papers, 1713-1915 Houghton Library
creatorOf Raymond, Samuel H., 1822-1845. Papers, 1842-1845. United States Military Academy, USMA Library
creatorOf Richard Delafield Letterbook, 1846-1849 Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center
referencedIn Waggaman, George G., 1815-1884. Document. United States Military Academy, USMA Library
referencedIn American Philosophical Society Archives. Record Group IIe. 1845-1865. American Philosophical Society
referencedIn Delafield, Lewis L. (Lewis Livingston), 1834-1883. Letterpress copybook, 1866 March 23-1870 Sept. 12. New-York Historical Society
referencedIn Hatch, John Porter, 1822-1901. Correspondence. United States Military Academy, USMA Library
creatorOf Delafield, Richard, 1798-1873. Papers. United States Military Academy, USMA Library
referencedIn Smithsonian Archives. Spencer F. Baird Papers (Mc 2000.11).
referencedIn Frederick M. Dearborn collection of military and political Americana, Part III: The Civil War: The Union, 1804-1915. Houghton Library
referencedIn Coffin, James H. (James Henry), 1806-1873. James Henry Coffin Papers, 1848-1884 Smithsonian Institution Archives
referencedIn National Archives And Records Administration. Rg 77: Chief Of Engineers.
creatorOf Adams, J. (Jasper), 1793-1841. Papers. United States Military Academy, USMA Library
creatorOf United States Military Academy. Library. Papers. United States Military Academy, USMA Library
creatorOf Brewerton, Henry, 1801-1879. Autograph telegram signed : Fort Monroe, to Gen. Delafield, 1864 Nov. 7. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Bache, A. D. (Alexander Dallas), 1806-1867. Alexander Dallas Bache Papers, 1821-1869 Smithsonian Institution Archives
creatorOf Delafield, Richard, 1798-1873. [Plan of a field work designed for the defence of a depot at Brownsville, Texas]. Elmer Holmes Bobst Library
creatorOf Delafield, Richard, 1798-1873. Plan of Lake Champlain and Lake George and of their connection with the River Saint Lawrence / from Major Roberdean's original survey ; by Richard Delafield. Elmer Holmes Bobst Library
creatorOf Delafield, Richard, 1798-1873. Survey of Ringgold Barracks made geometrically in October 1853 ... / by Richard Delafield, Maj. of Engineers ; measurements by Serjeant Foster ... [et al.]. Elmer Holmes Bobst Library
referencedIn Philip Case Lockwood memorial collection of Civil War portraits and autographs, 1862-ca. 1886. Houghton Library
creatorOf Barry, William F. (William Farquhar), 1818-1879. Civil War letters received and farewell dinner memorabilia, 1861-1862, 1867. Buffalo History Museum, Research Library
creatorOf Delafield, Richard, 1798-1873. [West Point Iron Chain]. United States Military Academy, USMA Library
referencedIn Photographic Portrait File The Huntington Library
creatorOf Delafield, Richard, 1798-1873. Richard Delafield papers, 1846-1862. New-York Historical Society
creatorOf Delafield, Richard, 1798-1873. [Map of boundaries asserted by the city of Brownsville, Texas] / copied by Rich:d Delafield ; from [a map] loaned by Judge Dunlap. Elmer Holmes Bobst Library
Role Title Holding Repository
contributorOf 1865 - Delafield, Richard - File No. E167 United States. National Archives and Records Administration
contributorOf 1861 - Delafield, Richard - File No. D207 United States. National Archives and Records Administration
contributorOf 1866 - Delafield, Richard - File No. E86 United States. National Archives and Records Administration
contributorOf Consolidated Military Officer's File of Richard Delafield, District of Columbia, 1865 United States. National Archives and Records Administration
contributorOf Delafield, Richard - New York - 1857 - File No. D22 United States. National Archives and Records Administration
creatorOf Delafield, Richard - State: [Blank] - Year: 1841 - File Number: D258 United States. National Archives and Records Administration
contributorOf 1866 - Delafield, Richard - File No. E137 United States. National Archives and Records Administration
contributorOf 1866 - Delafield, Richard - File No. E147 United States. National Archives and Records Administration
contributorOf 1868 - Delafield, Richard - File No. D285 United States. National Archives and Records Administration
contributorOf 1866 - Delafield, Richard - File No. E64 United States. National Archives and Records Administration
contributorOf 1866 - Delafield, Richard - File No. E149 United States. National Archives and Records Administration
contributorOf 1866 - Delafield, Richard - File No. E122 United States. National Archives and Records Administration
contributorOf 1865 - Delafield, Richard - File No. E526 United States. National Archives and Records Administration
contributorOf Delafield, Richard - State: New York - Year: 1840 - File Number: D300 United States. National Archives and Records Administration
contributorOf 1866 - Delafield, Richard - File No. E110 United States. National Archives and Records Administration
contributorOf 1866 - Delafield, Richard - File No. E173 United States. National Archives and Records Administration
contributorOf 1865 - Delafield, Richard - File No. E388 United States. National Archives and Records Administration
contributorOf 1866 - Delafield, Richard - File No. E134 United States. National Archives and Records Administration
contributorOf 1866 - Delafield, Richard - File No. E14 United States. National Archives and Records Administration
contributorOf 1866 - Delafield, Richard - File No. E76 United States. National Archives and Records Administration
contributorOf 1865 - Delafield, Richard - File No. Q213 United States. National Archives and Records Administration
contributorOf Delafield, Richard - State: District of Columbia - Year: 1866 United States. National Archives and Records Administration
contributorOf 1867 - Delafield, Richard - File No. D303 United States. National Archives and Records Administration
contributorOf 1866 - Delafield, Richard - File No. E133 United States. National Archives and Records Administration
contributorOf Delafield, Richard - State: New York - Year: 1818 - Folder Number: 12108 United States. National Archives and Records Administration
contributorOf 1867 - Delafield, Richard - File No. D26 United States. National Archives and Records Administration
contributorOf 1861 - Delafield, Richard - File No. D346 United States. National Archives and Records Administration
contributorOf 1866 - Delafield, Richard - File No. E116 United States. National Archives and Records Administration
contributorOf 1866 - Delafield, Richard - File No. E83 United States. National Archives and Records Administration
contributorOf 1866 - Delafield, Richard - File No. E207 United States. National Archives and Records Administration
creatorOf General Delafield's Plan United States. National Archives and Records Administration
contributorOf Delafield, Richard - State: [Blank] - Year: 1844 - File Number: D17 United States. National Archives and Records Administration
contributorOf 1866 - Delafield, Richard - File No. E65 United States. National Archives and Records Administration
contributorOf Delafield, Richard - State: [Blank] - Year: 1844 - File Number: D69 United States. National Archives and Records Administration
contributorOf 1864 - Delafield, Richard - File No. E202 United States. National Archives and Records Administration
contributorOf 1866 - Delafield, Richard - File No. E109 United States. National Archives and Records Administration
contributorOf Delafield, Richard - State: [Blank] - Year: 1841 - File Number: D256 United States. National Archives and Records Administration
referencedIn Consolidated Military Officer's File of General Richard Delafield, Corps of Engineers United States. National Archives and Records Administration
creatorOf Letter from Colonel Richard Delafield Regarding His Assumption of Command of the United States Military Academy at West Point After the Resignation of Colonel P. G. T. Beauregard United States. National Archives and Records Administration
contributorOf 1866 - Delafield, Richard - File No. E16 United States. National Archives and Records Administration
contributorOf Delafield, Richard - New York - 1856 - File No. D365 United States. National Archives and Records Administration
Relation Name
associatedWith Adams, J. (Jasper), 1793-1841. person
associatedWith American Philosophical Society. corporateBody
correspondedWith Baird, Spencer F. person
associatedWith Baltimore And Ohio Railroad corporateBody
associatedWith Barnard, J. G. (John Gross), 1815-1882. person
associatedWith Barry, William F. (William Farquhar), 1818-1879. person
associatedWith Bartlett, William Holmes Chambers, 1804-1893. person
associatedWith Bartlett, William Holmes Chambers, 1804-1893. person
associatedWith Benham, Henry Washington, 1813-1884. person
associatedWith Bolles, J. N. person
associatedWith Bolles, J. T. person
associatedWith Brackenridge, W. D. person
associatedWith Brewerton, Henry, 1801-1879. person
associatedWith Campbell, Archibald, 1813-1887. person
associatedWith Clark, Mr. person
correspondedWith Cluss, Adolf person
correspondedWith Colfax, Schuyler person
associatedWith Constantine family. family
associatedWith Constantine, John. person
associatedWith Constantine, Levi, person
associatedWith Cunard, Samuel, 1787-1865. person
associatedWith Davis, Jefferson, 1808-1889. person
associatedWith Dearborn, Frederick M. (Frederick Myers), b. 1876 person
associatedWith Delafield, Albert person
associatedWith Delafield, Lewis L. (Lewis Livingston), 1834-1883. person
associatedWith Downing, Andrew J. person
associatedWith Duane, James C. person
associatedWith French, J. W. (John William), 1810?-1871. person
correspondedWith Garfield, James A. (General) person
correspondedWith Guerrard, J. St. Julien (Dr.) person
associatedWith Hatch, John Porter, 1822-1901. person
correspondedWith Henry, Joseph, 1797-1878 person
correspondedWith Jenkins, Thornton A. person
associatedWith Knowlton, Miner, 1804-1870. person
correspondedWith Lockwood, Philip Case, 1844-1897 person
associatedWith Maclean, John (1800 1886) person
associatedWith Marcy, William L. (William Learned), 1786-1857. person
associatedWith Mason, John Y. (John Young), 1799-1859. person
associatedWith McClellan, George Brinton, 1826-1885. person
associatedWith Mcdowell, General person
associatedWith Michler, Nathaniel (General) person
associatedWith Morgan, Edwin D. (Edwin Denison), 1811-1883. person
associatedWith Orr, John, of Niles, Mich. person
correspondedWith Palfrey family. family
associatedWith Parker, Dr. person
associatedWith Purdy, J. H. person
associatedWith Raymond, Samuel H., 1822-1845. person
associatedWith Raynolds, W. F. person
correspondedWith Rhees, William J. person
associatedWith Sherman, William Tecumseh person
associatedWith Smith, Frederick Augustus, 1812-1852. person
associatedWith Smith, Persifor Fraser, 1798-1858. person
memberOf Smithsonian Institution Board Of Regents corporateBody
associatedWith Thayer, Sylvanus, 1785-1872. person
associatedWith Totten, Joseph Gilbert, 1788-1864. person
associatedWith United States. corporateBody
leaderOf United States. Army. Corps of Engineers corporateBody
memberOf United States. Army. Corps of Engineers. corporateBody
leaderOf United States Military Academy corporateBody
alumnusOrAlumnaOf United States Military Academy corporateBody
associatedWith United States Military Academy. Library. corporateBody
associatedWith Waggaman, George G., 1815-1884. person
associatedWith Waggaman, George G., 1816-1884. person
associatedWith Wallach, Richard, Hon. person
associatedWith Woodbury, Daniel Phineas, 1813-1864. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
New York City NY US
Hampton Roads VA US
West Point NY US
Brownsville PA US
Crimea 11 UA
Washington City DC US
Washington City DC US
Manhattan NY US
Mississippi River 00 US
Subject
Architecture
Buildings
Military camps
Civil War, 1861-1865
Congress
Crimean War, 1853-1856
District of columbia
Fortification
Fortification
Geology
Harbors
Henry, Joseph, Personality, Etc
Military history
Inland navigation
Light House Board
Magnetism
Magnetism, Terrestrial
Mechanics
Meteorology
Military engineering
Military engineers
National Museum
Natural history
New York (State)
Physical geography
President Of United States
Roads
Smithsonian Board Of Regents
Smithsonian Building
Smithsonian Endowment
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Library
Smithsonian Publications
Streams
Surveys And Explorations, General
Telegraph
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Occupation
Military engineers
Soldiers
Activity

Person

Birth 1798-09-01

Death 1873-11-05

Male

Americans

English

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