26 Facts About Philip Kearny

Philip Kearny served in French Emperor Napoleon III's Imperial Guard at the Battle of Solferino.

Philip Kearny's father was a Harvard-educated, New York City financier who owned his own brokerage firm and was a founder of the New York Stock Exchange.

Early in life, Philip Kearny desired a career in the military.

Philip Kearny's parents died when he was young, and he was consequently raised by his grandfather.

Philip Kearny attended Columbia College, attaining a law degree in 1833.

Philip Kearny was sent to France in 1839 to study cavalry tactics, first attending school at the famous cavalry school in Saumur.

Philip Kearny participated in several combat engagements with the Chasseurs d'Afrique in Algeria.

Philip Kearny rode into battle with a sword in his right hand, pistol in his left, and the reins in his teeth, as was the style of the Chasseurs.

Philip Kearny returned to the United States in the fall of 1840 and prepared a cavalry manual for the Army based on his experiences overseas.

Shortly afterward, Philip Kearny was designated aide-de-camp to General Alexander Macomb, and served in this position until Macomb's death in June 1841.

Philip Kearny did additional duty on the frontier, accompanying his uncle's unit on an expedition to the South Pass of the Oregon Trail in 1845.

Philip Kearny was assigned to raise a troop of cavalry for the 1st US Dragoons, Company F, in Terre Haute, Indiana.

Philip Kearny spared no expense in recruiting his men and acquired 120 matched dapple gray horses with his own money.

Philip Kearny was an original member of the Aztec Club of 1847, a military society for Army officers who served in Mexico in 1847.

Philip Kearny embarked on a trip around the world, visiting China, Ceylon, and France.

In Paris, Philip Kearny fell in love with a New York City woman named Agnes Maxwell, but was unable to marry her because his first wife would not grant him a divorce.

In 1854, Philip Kearny was injured when the horse he was riding fell through a rotten bridge.

In 1859, Philip Kearny returned to France, re-joining the Chasseurs d'Afrique, who were at the time fighting against Austrian forces in Italy.

Philip Kearny received command of the 3rd Division of the III Corps on April 30,1862.

Philip Kearny led the division into action at the Battle of Williamsburg and the Battle of Fair Oaks.

Philip Kearny disliked the commander of the Army of the Potomac, Maj.

Philip Kearny is credited with devising the first unit insignia patches used in the US Army.

The enlisted men, with whom Philip Kearny was quite popular, quickly followed suit voluntarily.

Philip Kearny's body was borne to the rear after the Confederates realized that a general officer had been killed.

Philip Kearny's papers were given to Lee for examination, but they merely consisted of personal letters to his wife and contained no useful military documents; Lee quickly burned them.

Philip Kearny was buried at Trinity Churchyard in New York after his remains were transported from his residence in East Newark, New Jersey.