George W. Roosevelt

Brevet Captain George Washington Roosevelt (February 14, 1843 – April 14, 1907), received the Medal of Honor for heroism during the American Civil War.

George W. Roosevelt
Born(1843-02-14)February 14, 1843
Chester County, Pennsylvania
DiedApril 14, 1907(1907-04-14) (aged 64)
Brussels, Belgium
Buried
Oak Hill Cemetery
Washington, D.C.
Allegiance United States
Union
Branch United States Army
Union Army
Rank First Sergeant
Captain (Brevet)
Unit Company K. 26th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment
Battles/warsAmerican Civil War
RelationsTheodore Roosevelt
Franklin Roosevelt (fifth cousins)

Biography

George Washington Roosevelt was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania, in 1843. He was the son of Solomon Roosevelt and his wife Elizabeth Morris.

Civil War

Following the outbreak of the American Civil War, Roosevelt enlisted as a corporal in Company K of the 26th Pennsylvania Infantry on May 1, 1861.

He was promoted to sergeant on September 1, 1862.

He had risen to first sergeant of Company K by the time of the Battle of Gettysburg in July, 1863. He was honorably discharged from the Army at Philadelphia on March 14, 1864.

In recognition of his war service, Roosevelt received a brevet promotion to captain.

Later life

He married Mary Elizabeth Perry on July 25, 1865. His second wife was Ida Mae Weber (1850-1926).

Following the war, Roosevelt had a 30-year career as a diplomat with the United States Department of State. He was the U.S. Consular Agent in Sydney, Australia, from 1877 to 1878. He was then U.S. Consul in Auckland, New Zealand, from 1878 to 1879; Saint Helena from 1879 to 1880; Matanzas from 1880–81; Bordeaux, France, from 1881-89 and Brussels, Belgium, from 1889 to 1902. His final posting was as the U.S. Consul General in Brussels in 1906.[1]

Captain Roosvelt died in Brussels in 1907 at the age of 63. He is buried with his second wife in the Oak Hill Cemetery in Washington, D.C..[2][3]

In May 2003, Captain Roosevelt's Medal of Honor was up for auction in eBay. The medal was confiscated by the FBI and was donated to the Congressional Medal of Honor Society in May 2004.[4]

Medal of Honor citation

For extraordinary heroism while serving with Company K, 26th Pennsylvania Infantry. At Bull Run, Virginia, on 30 August 1862, First Sergeant Roosevelt recaptured the colors, which had been seized by the enemy. At Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, on 2 July 1863, he captured a Confederate Color Bearer and color, during this heroic effort he was severely wounded.

Date of Issue: July 2, 1887 [5]

Genealogy

George Washington Roosevelt's line of descent from Nicholas Roosevelt (1658-1742), his common ancestor with Theodore and Franklin Roosevelt.

  • Nicholas Roosevelt (1658-1742)
    • Nicholas Roosevelt, Jr. (1687-c. 1717)
      • Nicholas Roosevelt, III (c. 1715-1769)
        • Nicholas Roosevelt, IV (1758-1838)
          • Solomon Roosevelt (1778-1833)
            • Solomon Roosevelt (1807-1900)
              • George Washington Roosevelt (1843-1907)

See also

References
  1. "Shadow box". Army.togetherweserved.com. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
  2. "Photo of Grave site of MOH Recipient George Washington Roosevelt". Homeofheroes.com. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
  3. "George Washington Roosevelt (1844-1907) - Find A..." Findagrave.com. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
  4. "Historic Medals of Honor Recovered". Archives.fbi.gov. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
  5. "Valor awards for George Washington Roosevelt". Valor.militarytimes.com. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
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