Military officer; born in
Derby, Conn., July 10, 1752; graduated at Yale College in 1771, and was for a short time tutor in the family of
Colonel Phillipse, of Phillipse Manor, N. Y. He entered the army as captain early in the
Revolutionary War, and in October, 1777, was major of a brigade.
He was aide to
General Putnam in 1778,
and early in 1780 was made aide to
Washington.
Having distinguished himself at
Yorktown, he was made the bearer of the captured British standards to Congress, when that body voted him an elegant sword.
At the close of the war he accompanied
Washington to
Mount Vernon, and in July, 1784, went to
France as secretary of legation to
Jefferson, accompanied by
Kosciuszko.
In 1787 he was appointed colonel of a regiment for the
Western service, but when it was reduced, in 1788, he again went to
Mount Vernon, where he remained with
Washington until sent as minister to
Portugal in 1790.
He was master of ceremonies in regulating the etiquette of the republican court of
[
462]
the first
President.
Appointed minister to
Spain in 1797, he continued there until 1802, and concluded treaties with
Algiers and
Tripoli.
He was extensively engaged in agriculture and manufactures after his return to
America, and in 1812 he took command of the militia of
Connecticut.
He was a poet of considerable genius; also a dramatic writer.
He died in
New Haven, Conn., Feb. 21, 1818.
