Paul Revere

NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey

Paul Revere

Biographical and Genealogical History of Morris County New Jersey. Illustrated. Vol. II., Lewis Publishing Company, New York and Chicago, 1899.

Hardly a name in American history is so familiar as to the one which begins this review and which is now worthily worn by one of Morristown's loyal, respected and honored citizens. The conditions of life are changed since his great-grandfather took the famous midnight ride, arousing the soldiers at the opening of the Revolution; but the same loyalty to country characterizes the subject of this sketch. He springs from a family indeed prominent in the annals of the nation. Every schoolboy throughout the length and breadth of the land knows the story of the hero who watched for the signal light in the old North church tower, "One if by land, and two if by sea," and then rode through the darkness to villages and farm houses, arousing all the people to resist the attack of the British the following morning. The next generation of the family had its representative no less prominent in the affairs of civil life, for Dr. John Revere, the grandfather of our subject, was one of the founders of the medical department of the University of the City of New York and did much to advance medical science to a point that it had never before attained. He was a very eminent physician, the author of many valuable medical works, and at one time was a professor in Jefferson Medical College, of Philadelphia.

General Joseph Warren Revere, the father of our subject, was born in Boston in 1812, and at the age of fourteen entered the United States Naval School, at New York, thus beginning a long career of service by sea and land in almost every portion of the globe, a service full of exciting interest and romantic adventure. At sixteen he sailed for a long cruise in the Pacific and then joined the squadron employed in suppressing the African slave trade. After a trying service in which he often narrowly escaped death from disease, wreck and mutiny, he was sent to the European squadron. He visited every country of Europe and the Mediterranean shores of Asia and Africa, and, being an accomplished linguist, he acted as aid to the commodore and was especially fortunate in meeting the most distinguished personages of the day. In Spain he witnessed the exciting scenes of the Carlist war. He visited the interior of Algeria with a French force which had a fierce fight with the Arabs. (During the Seminole war he served with the "Mosquito fleet" on the coast of Florida, and shortly after commanded a vessel engaged in breaking up the organized piracy in the West Indies.) In 1838 he sailed in the first American squadron which circumnavigated the globe, and at Bombay he witnessed the departure of the British army for the disastrous campaign of Cabul. For saving the British man-of-war, Ganges, from shipwreck, he was presented with a sword of honor by the governor-general of India. On the coast of Sumatra the squadron bombarded the towns of Kwala Batu and Muckie, in punishment for the seizure of an American vessel and the murder of her crew. After that cruise Lieutenant Revere again served in the West Indies.

Throughout the Mexican war he was on the coast of California and at Sonoma raised the first American flag north of San Francisco bay, being also present at the battles of the Mesa and the San Gabriel, the bombardment of Guaymas and the other exciting events of the conquest. After the war he went again to California, as government timber agent for the new territory, and was an actor in the wild scenes at the time of the "gold fever." A book published by him and entitled "A Tour of Duty in California," became a handbook for the pioneers and settlers. In 1849 Lieutenant Revere resigned from the navy and remained for two years on a ranch he had purchased. In 1851 he engaged in the coasting trade, and on the coast of Mexico he rescued, after a desperate conflict, the passengers and crew of a shipwrecked Spanish vessel from a horrible death at the hands of savages. For this service the Spanish government conferred upon him the order of Isabella, and he received high testimonials from other governments. Not long afterward he became the intimate friend of the president of Mexico and accepted a commission as lieutenant-colonel of artillery in the Mexican army. He reorganized this branch of the service and instructed the officers, among them the celebrated Miramon, afterward executed by the side of Emperor Maximilian. In a battle with the Revolutionists his skill and valor saved the national army from destruction. He was declared to have "deserved well of the republic" and received high honors.

Wearied at last of his adventurous life, Colonel Revere returned home and settled with his family near Morristown. He continued thereafter a citizen of Morris county and served as brigadier-general of the Morris county militia. At the outbreak of the Rebellion he at once offered his services to the general government and was soon made colonel of the Seventh Regiment of New Jersey Volunteers. The brilliant record of this gallant regiment, second to none in the service, has been largely attributed to the severe discipline it received under Colonel Revere, whom General Hooker pronounced "the best disciplinarian in the service." He fought in the battles of the Peninsula campaign and the second Manassas, was promoted brigadier-general and commanded the Second New Jersey Brigade, of which the Seventh formed a part, until after the battle of Fredericksburg. When the army was reorganized under General Hooker, General Revere was assigned to command the New York "Excelsior" brigade, a splendid body of fighting men, whom General Hooker felt needed more stringent discipline than they had yet received. At Chancellorsville Revere's brigade led the van in the desperate struggle after the rout of the Eleventh Corps and was in the thickest of this disastrous fight. General Revere was the only federal eye-witness of the fatal wounding of "Stonewall" Jackson. For a movement made just after this fight General Revere was censured by General Sickles and was for a time deprived of his rank, but the opinion of the men he had commanded, and that of Generals Meade and Sedgwick and other high officers, held him innocent of any offense. President Lincoln declared he had been unjustly treated, restored him to his rank and he was subsequently named brevet major-general.

His health was completely shattered by wounds and diseases incurred in service and his existence became one of unbroken suffering. In 1873 he published "Keel and Saddle," a retrospect of his stirring life. He was very widely read and wrote much for publication. He possessed considerable artistic talent, and a picture painted by him is a prominent object in the Church of the Assumption, Morristown. In 1862 he joined the Catholic church, in which he remained until his death. In politics he adhered to the old-time Democratic principles of his youth.

General Revere married Miss Rosanna Duncan Lamb, of Boston, who, with two of his five children, Paul and Augustus L. Revere, survives him, his death having occurred April 20, 1880. The Revere homestead in Morristown has been occupied by the mother and sons for about twenty years and it is one of the most interesting homes in all New Jersey. In the hall hangs a portrait of old Judge Rivoire, who lived in France over two hundred years ago, indicating the French Huguenot descent of the family. There are also portraits of Paul Revere, the Revolutionary hero, and his wife, and of General Revere, in military uniform. The house is also filled with curios from all parts of the globe, secured by General Revere in his travels. These include a rhinocerous-hide shield from the Malay islands; an old helmet supposed to have belonged to a follower of Cortez; a dagger used by the French actress, Rachel; the sword received from the governor-general of India; a Turkish cimeter presented to General Revere by Mehemet Ali, and a sabre presented by the sultan of Zanzibar; California bowie knives, pistols and war clubs, and commissions bearing the signatures of famous officials. The old house was erected in 1807 and within its walls many distinguished men have been welcomed to Morristown, including General La Fayette.

Paul Revere, who is his father's successor as head of this household, was born in Morristown September 28, 1856, and acquired his literary education in the Morristown Classical School. He read law in the office of Hon. Staats S. Morris, of Newark, and ex-Governor Joseph D. Bedle, of Jersey City, and was a student in the Harvard Law School. In February, 1881, he was admitted to the bar and was actively engaged in practice in Newark until 1885, when the great demands made upon his time by other business interests forced him to put aside the law. He has been connected with some of the most important real-estate transactions of this city, is a director in the Morris County Savings Bank, the Morris County Mortgage & Realty Company and the Morristown Trust Company. He is also president of the Morristown Association for Public Improvement, and his wise counsel and able management in directing the affairs of these concerns have been important factors in the successes which have crowned the enterprises and which not only add to the prosperity of the stockholders, but advance the general welfare also, "Peace hath her victories no less renowned than war," and many of these Mr. Revere has also won.

Twice has he served as a member of the common council of Morristown, from 1883 to 1885, and again from 1888 to 1890. In politics he is a stanch Democrat and has taken an active interest in political affairs since his boyhood. He has been a delegate to most of the Democratic conventions in the past eighteen years, has frequently served as chairman of such conventions and public meetings, has been president of the Morristown Democratic Club, and has been a member of the county board of election. His counsel carries great weight in the conventions of his party, and he is recognized as a prominent leader in Democratic circles. He supported Palmer and Buckner in 1896 and was chairman of the Morris county sound-money Democratic committee, and a member of the state committee. He has been "on the stump" in this part of New Jersey in almost every election since 1880, and is an interesting, entertaining, logical and forceful speaker.

Mr. Revere is also a valued member of several social and fraternal organizations. He belongs to the Sons of Veterans and served as captain of his camp, was one of the founders of the Sons of the American Revolution, was treasurer of the society in New Jersey, and was vice-president general of the national society. He also belongs to the Washington Association of New Jersey, to the Aztec Club and the New York Reform Club, and is president of All Souls Hospital Association, the Morris County Golf Club, and filled the same office in connection with the Morris County Gun Club. He also belongs to the Morristown Club, the Morristown Field Club and other organizations, and his genial manner and courteous deportment make him a popular representative of these organizations. He has taken a very active interest in fire-department matters, and was three years foreman of the Morristown fire wardens. Every enterprise for the public good receives his commendation, and his liberal support to many beneficial movements has added to the progress and improvement of the city. In his religious connections he is a Catholic.

Mr. Revere is a gentleman of literary taste and scholarly habits, has read and studied extensively on the questions of great moment to the nation, and has written some very able articles on taxation, public improvement and municipal government. His life has been one of great activity in practical affairs and has been an important factor in promoting the best interests of his native city. He has that culture and refinement which only travel can bring, and in addition to his visits to many sections of his native land and Canada, he made a trip to Europe in 1887, there spending six months in visiting the many points of beauty and historic interest in England, France and Italy. He comes of a notable family, but is honored for his own sterling virtues and upright life, rather than for the heroic deeds of his ancestors.

Transcribed by Brianne Kelly-Bly