John Wilkins Jr. Explained

John Wilkins Jr.
Birth Date:22 December 1761
Birth Place:East Donegal, Pennsylvania
Battles:American Revolutionary War

John Wilkins Jr. (December 22, 1761  - April 20, 1816) was a United States Army officer who served as Quartermaster General of the United States Army from 1796 to 1802.

Early life

Wilkins was born on December 22, 1761, in Donegal, now East Donegal, Pennsylvania, and raised in Carlisle.[1] At age 15 the younger Wilkins enlisted for the American Revolution, and was assigned as Surgeon's Mate of the 4th Pennsylvania Regiment.[2] [3] He served in the position from April 8, 1780, until the close of the war on November 3, 1783. As a result of this service Wilkins earned the nickname "Doctor".[4]

After the war Wilkins became a merchant and contractor in Pennsylvania and Presque Isle, Michigan, providing supplies and equipment to the United States Army in the Northwest Territory.[5] In 1793 Governor Thomas Mifflin appointed Wilkins as Brigadier General of the Allegheny County Militia as part of Pennsylvania's response to the Whiskey Rebellion.[6]

Quartermaster General

President George Washington appointed Wilkins as Quartermaster General of the United States Army in June 1796. In October Wilkins attempted to resign, pleading the necessity of attending to personal business. His resignation was not accepted and he continued to serve, overseeing the supplying and equipping of an expanded Army in anticipation of war with France. Although the act of March 3, 1799, provided for a Quartermaster General with rank of major general, Wilkins was not appointed to that rank and served in the position as a civilian.[7] The dispute with France was resolved without fighting, and Wilkins served until his position was abolished in March 1802 as part of a downsizing of the Army through the Military Peace Establishment Act.[8] [9] [10]

Later life

After leaving the Army, Wilkins returned to his business interests in Pennsylvania, including serving as President of the Pittsburgh branch of the Bank of Pennsylvania.[11] [12] [13] Wilkins died in Pittsburgh on April 29, 1816. He was originally buried in the yard of Pittsburgh's First Presbyterian Church, and later interred in Pittsburgh's Homewood Cemetery.[14] [15]

Family

Wilkins was the son of John Wilkins Sr. (1733  - 1810), a Captain in the American Revolution.[16] He was the brother of Senator William Wilkins.[17] He was the father of Judge Ross Wilkins.[18] His nephew Wilkins F. Tannehill (1787-1858), served as the mayor of Nashville, Tennessee, from 1825 to 1827.[19]

Legacy

The town of Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, is named for General Wilkins.[20]

Notes and References

  1. https://archive.org/stream/yearbookofpennsy01sons#page/90/mode/2up/search/wilkins Pennsylvania Society, Sons of the American Revolution
  2. https://books.google.com/books?id=-w8WQbrb3cgC&pg=PA178 Daughters of the American Revolution
  3. https://books.google.com/books?id=tZALAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA592 Francis Bernard Heitman
  4. http://www.thelittlelist.net/wagtozei.htm The Little List
  5. http://www.qmfound.com/MG_John_Wilkins_Jr.htm US Army Quartermaster Foundation
  6. https://books.google.com/books?id=JdcLAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA197 Pennsylvania Archives
  7. Historical Register and Dictionary of the United States Army. Francis B. Heitman. Vol. 1. pg. 40.
  8. https://books.google.com/books?id=aglKVc65MZAC&pg=PA17 Dr. Peter D. Skirbunt
  9. https://books.google.com/books?id=trbBXKeHO3sC&pg=PA253 William K. Emerson
  10. https://books.google.com/books?id=aSVAAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA14 A Sketch of the Organization of the Quartermaster's Department
  11. https://books.google.com/books?id=arAfWBsvO1gC&pg=PA886 John W. Jordan
  12. https://books.google.com/books?id=i3a2XV0lOTQC&pg=PA36 Quentin R. Skrabec
  13. https://books.google.com/books?id=TPUMAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA288 George Thornton Fleming, American Historical Society
  14. https://books.google.com/books?id=GR8LAAAAIAAJ&q=%22john+wilkins+jr%22+buried+first+presbyterian+church Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania
  15. https://books.google.com/books?id=wibTAAAAMAAJ&q=%22john+wilkins+jr%22+homewood National Genealogical Society
  16. https://books.google.com/books?id=vPEpAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA81 James T. White & Co.
  17. https://books.google.com/books?id=RGBUAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA106-IA10 US Government Printing Office
  18. https://books.google.com/books?id=VsmZphjPLJQC&pg=PA18 David Gardner Chardavoyne
  19. [Octavia Zollicoffer Bond]
  20. Book: Wilkinsburg Historical Society. Wilkinsburg. 9. Images of America. Arcadia Publishing. 2007. 978-0-7385-4917-0.