UNIVERSITY of GLASGOW

The Corresponence of James McNeil Whistler
Home > On-line Edition > Biography

Joseph Gilbert Totten, 1788-1864

Nationality: American
Date of Birth: 1788.08.23
Place of Birth: New Haven, CT
Date of Death: 1864.04.22
Place of Death: Washington, DC

Identity:

He was the son of Peter Totten and Grace Mansfield.

Life:

He was the Inspector of the USMA, West Point, NY, when JW was a cadet there. He was brevetted Major-General in 1864. He was the harbour Commissioner for New York and Boston, 1860-64. He was a member of several scientific societies. He translated Treussart's Essays on Hydraulic and Common Mortars (1842), and published a Report on National Defences (1851), and a Report on Firing with Heavy Ordnance (1857).

Bibliography:

Herringshaw's Encyclopedia of American Biography, p. 937; The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, vol. 10, p. 176; Who Was Who in America, Chicago, 1963, p. 534; Cullum Memorial Edition, Register of Graduates and former cadets, United States Military Academy, West Point, 1980, No. 10.