James Wilkinson
James Wilkinson (March 24, 1757 – December 28, 1825) was an American soldier, politician, and double agent who was associated with several scandals and controversies.
James Wilkinson | |
|---|---|
Portrait of Wilkinson by Charles Willson Peale, 1797 | |
| 6th and 9th Senior Officer of the United States Army | |
| In office June 15, 1800 – January 27, 1812 | |
| President | John Adams Thomas Jefferson James Madison |
| Preceded by | Alexander Hamilton |
| Succeeded by | Henry Dearborn |
| In office December 15, 1796 – July 13, 1798 | |
| President | George Washington John Adams |
| Preceded by | Anthony Wayne |
| Succeeded by | George Washington |
| 1st Governor of Louisiana Territory | |
| In office July 4, 1805 – March 3, 1807 | |
| President | Thomas Jefferson |
| Preceded by | William Henry Harrison (as Governor of the District of Louisiana) |
| Succeeded by | Meriwether Lewis |
| United States Envoy to Mexico | |
| In office 1816–1825 | |
| President | James Madison James Monroe John Quincy Adams |
| Preceded by | John H. Robinson |
| Succeeded by | Joel Roberts Poinsett |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 24, 1757 Charles County, Province of Maryland, British America |
| Died | December 28, 1825 (aged 68) Mexico City, Mexican Republic |
| Resting place | Church of San Miguel Arcángel, Mexico City, Mexico |
| Political party | Democratic-Republican |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 6 |
| Signature | |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Branch/service | Continental Army United States Army |
| Rank | Brigadier General |
| Battles/wars | American Revolutionary War War of 1812 |
He served in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, but he was twice compelled to resign. He was twice the Senior Officer of the U.S. Army, appointed to be the first Governor of the Louisiana Territory in 1805, and commanded two unsuccessful campaigns in the St. Lawrence River theater during the War of 1812. He died while seeking to serve as a diplomat in Mexico City.
In 1854, following extensive archival research in the Spanish archives in Madrid, Louisiana historian Charles Gayarré exposed Wilkinson as having been a highly paid spy in the service of the Spanish Empire. In the years since Gayarré's research became public, Wilkinson has been savagely condemned by American historians and politicians. According to President Theodore Roosevelt, "[I]n all our history, there is no more despicable character." However, he has been defended, especially in breaking up the Burr conspiracy.