Thomas McCall Cadwalader


Thomas McCall Cadwalader was an American who trained to be a lawyer but made his career in the military, retiring as a Major general.

Early life

Thomas McCall Cadwalader was born on the family estate called Greenwood in Trenton, New Jersey on September 11, 1795. His father was Lambert Cadwalader and mother was Mary McCall.
Through his mother, he was a descendant of the Schuyler and the Van Cortlandt families through her ancestors Stephanus Van Cortlandt and Gertrude Schuyler. He was their only child, a brother having died in childhood. His cousin Elizabeth Cadwalader married his uncle Archibald McCall. Many of his cousins once-removed became military leaders, following the footsteps of his father and grandfather.
He graduated from Princeton University and read law, but chose a career in the military instead.

Career

He was appointed deputy adjutant-general of the New Jersey militia on June 2, 1830. On April 10, 1833, he became Aide-de-camp to Elias P. Seeley with rank of lieutenant colonel. On July 30, 1842, he was promoted to brigadier general.
In 1856, he toured Europe to report on how the US military could be modernized.
He retired from the military on January 26, 1858. After his retirement he was given an honorary brevet promotion to major general.

Personal life

On December 27, 1831, Cadwalader married Maria Charlotte Gouverneur. Her aunt Elizabeth Kortright had married U.S. President James Monroe, and brother Samuel Laurence Gouverneur had married Monroe's daughter. Together, they were the parents of:
Cadwalader died October 22, 1873, and was buried in the Friends Burying Ground at Trenton, New Jersey.

Descendants

Through his son Richard, he was the grandfather of Richard McCall Cadwalader who married Emily Margaretta Roebling. Through his daughter Maria, he was the grandfather of Hester Gouverneur Hone-Bartol.