 philip kearny, jr. (; june 2, 1815 â september 1, 1862) was a united states army officer, notable for his leadership in the mexican-american war and american civil war. he was killed in action in the 1862 battle of chantilly. ==early life and career== kearny was born in new york city to a wealthy family. his father and mother were philip kearny, sr., and susan watts.de peyster, p. 32. his maternal grandfather john watts, the last royal recorder of new york city,de peyster, p. 31. was one of new york's wealthiest residents, who had vast holdings in ships, mills, factories, banks, and investment houses. kearny's father was a harvard-educated, new york city financier who owned his own brokerage firm and was also a founder of the new york stock exchange. early in life, kearny desired a career in the military. his parents died when he was young, and he was consequently raised by his grandfather. against the younger kearny's wishes, his guardian insisted that kearny pursue a law career. kearny attended columbia college, attaining a law degree in 1833. his cousin john watts de peyster, who had also attended columbia, wrote the first authoritative biography on kearny. in 1836, his grandfather died, leaving kearny a fortune of over $1 million. he chose to make the army his profession. the following year, kearny obtained a commission as a second lieutenant of cavalry, assigned to the 1st u.s. dragoons, who were commanded by his grand-uncle, colonel stephen w. kearny, and whose adjutant general was jefferson davis. the regiment was assigned to the western frontier. kearny was sent to france in 1839 to study cavalry tactics, first attending school at the famous cavalry school in saumur. he participated in several combat engagements with the chasseurs d'afrique in algiers. kearny rode into battle with a sword in his right hand, pist
1815_births 1862_deaths American_military_personnel_of_the_MexicanaAmerican_War American_people_of_Irish_descent Burials_at_Arlington_National_Cemetery Members_of_the_Aztec_Club_of_1847 People_from_New_York_City People_of_New_Jersey_in_the_American_Civil_War Union_Army_generals Union_military_personnel_killed_in_the_American_Civil_War United_States_Army_generals