Rash's Surname Index
Notes for George Douglas RAMSAY
*
General Ramsay was the chief of ordinance for the War Department, during the
Civil War and a friend of Abraham Lincoln.
RAMSAY, George Douglas, soldier, was born in Dumfries, Va., Feb. 21, 1802; son of Andrew and Catherine (Graham) Ramsay; grandson of Patrick and Elizabeth (Poythress) Ramsay and of Richard and James (Brent) Graham. Patrick Ramsay emigrated from Glasgow, Scotland, to Virginia, and settled in Bristol Parish. He returned to Scotland prior to the Revolution, and after his death, in 1791, his widow brought her sons to Alexandria, Va., where they followed mercantile pursuits. George Douglas Ramsay was graduated from the U.S. Military academy, and promoted 2d lieutenant, light artillery, July 1, 1820; was transferred to the 1st artillery on re-organization of the army, June 1, 1821; and promoted 1st lieutenant, March l, 1826. He served as adjutant of the 1st artillery, 1833–35; as assistant ordnance officer at Washington arsenal, D.C., in 1835, and was promoted captain and transferred to the ordnance department, Feb. 25, 1835, serving as commandant of the New York, Washington, Frankford and Augusta arsenals. He was married, Sept. 23, 1830, to Frances Whetcroft, daughter of Thomas and Frances (Whetcroft) Munroe of Washington, D.C.; his wife died, April 22, 1835. He was married, secondly, June 28, 1838, to Eliza Rae, daughter of Thomas Gales of Louisiana. He was ordnance officer at Corpus Christi and Point Isabel in the military occupation of Texas, 1845–46, and in the battle of Monterey, Sept. 21–23, 1846, where he was brevetted major, for gallant conduct. He was chief of ordnance of General Taylor's army, 1847–48; commandant of the Frankford, Fort Munroe, St. Louis and Washington arsenals, 1848–61; and was promoted major, April 22, 1861; lieutenant-colonel, Aug. 3, 1861, and colonel, June 1, 1863. He commanded the arsenal at Washington, D.C., 1861–63; served as chief of ordnance of the U.S. army with headquarters at Washington, 1863–64; was promoted brigadier-general, and made chief of ordnance of the U.S. army, Sept. 15, 1863, and retired by age limit, Sept. 12, 1864. He was inspector of arsenals, 1864–66; commanded the Washington arsenal, 1866–70; was brevetted major-general, U.S.A., March 13, 1865, for long and faithful services, and was a member of the examining board. He died in Washington, D.C., May 23, 1882.
The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans: Volume IX
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