American army officer and humorist, born on the 3rd of April 1823, in Dedham, MA; died on the 15th of May 1861, in New York. He served in the Mexican War (1846–47), and received the brevet of first lieutenant. From 1847 to 1860 he was on various surveys and explorations in Minnesota, California, Texas and other states. He was afterward employed in the coast survey, and had charge of the erection of many of the lighthouses of the Atlantic coast, He was the author of many humorous effusions, published under the name of “John Phœnix.” Among them are the Squibob Papers (1859). See also “Illustrated Newspapers,” “Tushmaker’s Toothpuller” and “Musical Review Extraordinary.”
