SCOTT, WINFIELD, an American military officer; born near Petersburg, Va., June 13, 1786; was educated at William and Mary College, and studied law. In 1808 he was appointed captain of light artillery in General Wilkinson's division, stationed at Baton Rouge, La.; but was suspended for having accused his general of complicity with the conspiracy of Aaron Burr. At the commencement of the War of 1812 he was appointed lieutenant-colonel and fought at Queens town Heights. In 1813 he was promoted adjutant-general; in 1814, brigadier general and brevet major-general. On July 3 he took Fort Erie, on the 5th fought the battle of Chippewa, and 20 days after, that of Lundy's Lane. He took part in the operations against the Seminoles and Creeks (1835-1837), in the Nullification disturbances in South Caro lina, and in the Canadian revolt of 1837 1838. In 1841 he was appointed com mander-in-chief of the United States Army, and in 1846 commanded in the Mexican War. In 1847 he won the vic
tories of Vera Cruz, Cerro Gordo, Jalapa, Perote, Puebla, Contreras, Churubusco, Molino del Rey and Chapultepec, and seized Mexico, Sept. 14. The same year he was brevetted lieutenant-general. In 1859 he was a commissioner to settle the San Juan dispute with Great Britain ; and in 1852 was the unsuccessful candi date of the Whig party for _ the presi dency. In 1862 he retired from the army, retaining, by special act of Congress, his pay and allowance. General Scott com piled the "General Regulations of the Army," and translated and adapted from the French the system of "Infantry Tac tics" which was used as the textbook of the army. In 1864 he published his "Autobiography." He died in West Point, N. Y., May 29, 1866.