WILKINSON. James, American soldier: b. Benedict, Md. 1757; d. near City of Mexico, 28 Dee. 1825. He studied medicine in Philadel phis and in 1775 enlisted in Washington's army. He became intimate with Benedict Arnold and Aaron Burr, and, having received a captain's commission, joined Arnold's expedition to Can ada. He was later appointed to the staff of General Gates, was promoted colonel, and subsequently became deputy adjutant-general of the army of the northern department. In the Saratoga campaign he appropriated as his own the information of the British position and strength which had been secured by Col. John Hardin and after the surrender of Burgoyne was commissioned to bear the news to Congress, carrying with him also the recommendation of Gates that be be appointed brigadier-general. He was 18 days in making the journey and the news was a week old when he delivered his message. Congress refused to grant his promo tion at that time, but a few weeks later, through the influence of Gates, he was brevetted briga dier-general and subsequently was appointed sec retary of the board of war, of which Gates was also a member. He was deeply implicated in the Conway Cabal (q.v.), which his indis cretion betrayed and was then forced to resign his brevet rank, though retaining his coloncicy. He took no further active share in the war until 1779, when he was appointed clothier office which he resigned in 1781. He removed to Kentucky in 1784 and in 1786 founded Frankfort. He gained considerable po litical influence there, intrigued with the Span ish government, with the hope of forming of the Western country a separate republic under the protection of Spain. His reward for this betrayal of his country was to be the exclusive control of commerce on the Mississippi and a yearly pension from the Spanish government. The plot was to be consummated at the conven tion which met in 1788 for the purpose of forming a constitution for the new State of Kentucky. Wilkinson's influence, however, proved insufficient, and the plot, becoming known to other leaders, fell through. The part of A'illeinson remained a secret, and though he continued to receive his pension from the Span ish government until 1800, he applied in 1791 for service in the army. His treasonable act
not being known, he was appointed lieutenant colonel, served in the Indian wars of the West and wasp rominent in Anthony Wayne's cam paign. He was promoted brigadier-general in 1702, and in 1796 succeeded Wayne in the com mand of the army. After the acquisition of Louisiana he was appointed in 1805 governor of the Territory of Louisiana and in this posi tion engaged with Aaron Burr (q v 1 in the lat ter's scheme for founding an empire in Mexico.
In 1806 Wilkinson, perceiving an opportunity to drive a double bargain, betrayed the scheme to the President, and at the same time de manded from the viceroy of Mexico a reward for saving that kingdom to Spain. The asser tions of Burr as to Wilkinson's complicity in the plot were generally believed, but at that time no proof of his guilt was obtainable, though he barely escaped indictment on the same charge with Burr in 1807. Inquiry con cerning his pension from the Spanish govern ment was made in that year upon a resolution of John Randolph, but he was exonerated. Charges were again made against him in 1810 on the score of complicity with Burr and of receiving pay from the Spanish government, but he was finally acquitted in December 1811, and resumed command in the army. He was pro moted major-general during the War of 1812, and commanded the Canada Expedition, but proved incompetent and in 1814 was superseded. He was court-martialed in that year on several serious charges — neglect of duty, conduct un becoming an officer, drunkenness, etc.— but in 1815 was acquitted and honorably discharged from the army. He then removed to the City of Mexico, where be spent the remainder of his life. He published The Aaron Burr Con spiracy Exposed' (1808); and 'Memoirs of My Own Times' (1816). Consult Clark, 'Proofs of the Corruption of Gen. James Wilkinson' (1809); Gayarre, 'Spanish Dominion in Louis iana' (1854); Gilmore, 'Advance-Guard of Western Civilization' (1887); Roosevelt, 'Win ning of the West,' Vol. III (1894); Green, 'The Spanish Conspiracy' (1891); McCaleb, 'The Aaron Burr Conspiracy' (1903); and 'Later Intrigues of Wilkinson with the Span iards' (in 'Amer. Hist. Review,' Vol. XIX, New York 1914).