Winfield Scott (June 13, 1786 – May 29, 1866) was an American military commander and political candidate. He served as a general in the United States Army from 1814 to 1861, taking part in the War of 1812, the Mexican–American War, the early stages of the Civil War, and conflicts with Native Americans.
Scott was the Whig Party's presidential nominee in the 1852 election but was defeated by Democrat Franklin Pierce.
He was known as Old Fuss and Feathers for his insistence on proper military etiquette, as well as the Grand Old Man of the Army for his many years of service.
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Scott was born in Dinwiddie County, Virginia, and graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1808. He served in the War of 1812, where he was wounded at the Battle of Lundy's Lane.
After the war, he served in various posts, including commander of the U.S. Army's Southern Division during the Indian Wars.
In 1846, he was appointed commander of the U.S. Army's forces in Mexico. He led the American forces to victory in the Mexican–American War and was responsible for the capture of Mexico City.
After the Mexican–American War, Scott served as commanding general of the U.S. Army until 1861. When the Civil War broke out, Scott devised a plan to defeat the Confederacy known as the Anaconda Plan.
The plan called for a naval blockade of the Southern coast, combined with a campaign to capture the Mississippi River. The Anaconda Plan was eventually successful in bringing about the defeat of the Confederacy, but it would take Ulysses S. Grant to implement it successfully.
Scott retired from the army in 1861 and died in 1866. He is considered one of the greatest American military leaders of all time.
Read Article: Famous Civil War Generals
Family Overview
Winfield Scott came from a military tradition. His father had fought in the Revolutionary War, and it would influence his son. His mother also came from a line of military veterans who had served during Colonial America.
Winfield married a beautiful woman who seemed reluctant to marry him until he increased his rank. When the two did marry, they had a happy marriage marked with much tragedy.
The couple lost their first 4 children at young ages. Their first died at 16, the second at 1, the third at 24, and the fourth at 4.
Their last three children would outlive them.
His last three children would be girls, so his name would not pass on through a son.
Family Tree Chart
Parents:
William Robert Scott (1740 - 1791) - He was a veteran of the Revolutionary War and had 15 children. He married Ann Mason.
Ann Mason (1748 - 1803) - She had 15 children, with many not surviving to adulthood. Her mother's last name was Winfield, which is how her youngest son got his name.
Spouse:
Maria DeHart Mayo (1789 - 1862) - According to multiple sources, she refused many proposals from her future husband because his rank was too low. She was known for her beauty, and it seemed she retained it in her latter years.
Children:
Maria Mayo Scott (1818 - 1833) - She only lived until she was 16 years of age. She was the oldest of Scott's children and died in New York City.
John Mayo Scott (1819 - 1820) - He did not survive long and died at just 1 year of age.
Virginia Scott (1821 - 1845) - She became a nun and was known as "Sister May Emmanuel." She died at the young age of 24.
Edward Winfield Scott (1823 - 1827) - Another of their children who died young. Edward was only 4 years of age when he passed away.
Cornelia Winfield Scott (1825 - 1885) - She married Henry Lee Scott, a Civil War veteran. It is unknown if they had any children.
Adeline Camilla Scott (1831 - 1882) - She married and had one child. She was the second child to outlive her parents.
Marcella "Ella" Scott (1833 - 1909) - She would be the last surviving child of Winfield Scott. She married and had 5 children. Two of her daughters joined a convent, with one living in a convent around the time of World War 1.
Siblings:
Elizabeth Hurst Scott (1761 - 1838) - She married Richard Bland Lee. It is unknown if Richard was related to Francis Lighthorse Lee.
Ann Laurel Scott (1774 - 1872) - She lived a very long life and was one of the last Scott siblings to survive.
*There are duplicate lines in regard to the siblings of Winfield Scott. Due to the questionable nature of those lines, I am only putting these two siblings in the tree chart, which can be found at Find a Grave.