George Izard


George Izard was a senior officer of the United States Army who served as the second Governor of Arkansas Territory from 1825 to 1828.

Early life

Izard was born in Richmond, England, to Ralph Izard, who was a delegate to the Continental Congress and United States Senator from South Carolina, and Alice DeLancey, niece of New York Governor James DeLancey and a descendant of Stephanus Van Cortlandt and Gertrude Schuyler. He graduated from the College of Philadelphia in 1792. He attended military academies in England and Germany and received military engineering instruction in France.

Military career

Izard returned to the United States in November 1794, and received a commission as Lieutenant in the US Army Corps of Engineers. He was ordered by Secretary of War James McHenry to oversee the construction of Castle Pinckney in South Carolina.
In January 1800, Izard became aide-de-camp to Army commander Alexander Hamilton. A few months later he was invited by William Loughton Smith, Minister Plenipotentiary to Portugal, to serve as his secretary, a position he accepted. He left Portugal the next year and returned to the United States. He officially resigned his army commission in June 1803.
In March 1812, Izard was appointed as Colonel of the newly organised 2nd Artillery Regiment. He was promoted to Brigadier General a year later, and served as Wade Hampton's second in command until his resignation, when Izard succeeded him. Promoted to Major General in January 1814, he was in charge of the Northern Army protecting Lake Champlain, until ordered to reinforce the Army of Niagara. He was discharged in June 1815.

Political career

Izard was appointed Governor of Arkansas Territory in March 1825, and served until his death in 1828.

Death

Izard died of complications of gout in Little Rock, Arkansas. Izard was originally buried near the Peabody School in Little Rock. After the historic Mount Holly Cemetery was established, Izard's remains were moved to the Mount Holly Cemetery in Little Rock in 1843.

Legacy

is named in his honor. General Izard's original artillery unit still exists as the 1st Battalion of the 3rd Air Defense Artillery Regiment.