George C. Gibson

United States Army Quartermaster General. He came from a family of soldiers and enlisted in the Army as a Captain in the 5th Infantry Regiment on May 3, 1808. Serving in War of 1812, he was promoted Lieutenant Colonel on August 15, 1813 and President Madison appointed him Quartermaster General on April 29, 1816. As Quartermaster General for the Southern Division, he was called upon to supply the campaign against the Seminole Indians in West Florida. In April 1818, he was appointed Chief Administrator Officer, to the newly created office of Commissary General of Subsistence in Washington D.C. On April 29, 1826, he was awarded the rank of Brigadier General for ten years of faithful service and on May 30, 1848, he was given the brevet rank of Major General for meritorious conduct, in performing his duties in the war with Mexico. At the time of his death he was the oldest officer in the Army at age 87 and the 11th Quartermaster General. He was honored at an elaborate military funeral attended by President Lincoln, members of his cabinet, Generals George B. McClellan and Winfield Scott.