2-2
VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY
was on waiting orders until his death at
Xorfolk, Virginia. April ii, 1853.
Kennon, Beverley, commodore m the United States navy, son of Col. Richard Kennon (q. v.), and Elizabeth Beverley Munford. his wife: he was killed by the ex- plosion of a gun on the United States ship Princeton, February 2S, 1844, when Secre- taries Upshur and Gilmer, of President Tyler's cabinet, also lost their lives. He married (first) Elizabeth, daughter of Wil- liam Dandridge Claiborne, of "Liberty Hall." King William county ; and (second) Brittania Wellington Peter, of Georgetown, D. C.
Alexander, Thomas Ludwell, born in Prince William county, Virginia, October 26. 1807, son of Gerard Alexander and Elinor Brent Lee, his wife. He entered the United States Military Academy in 1826, and graduated in 1830. He joined the Sixth United States Infantry Regiment as brevet second lieutenant, was promoted to second lieutenant and first lieutenant in 1837, and to captain in 1838, in same regiment; in 1853 promoted to major, in Eighth Regi- ment, and in 1861 to lieutenant-colonel. Fifth Regiment. The earlier years of his service were passed in what was then the extreme western frontier, in Missouri and Iowa. After two years of active service he became aide-de-camp to Brig.-Gen. Atkin- son, and was with him at the battle of Bad Ax, August 2, 1832, and was selected by the general to conduct Black Hawk (the leader of the Sacs and Fox Indians) to Washing- ton City, after his capture. He was in ser- vice against the Seminoles in Florida, from 1839 to 1842. At the end of the campaign, he superintended the removal of Tiger Tail,
the Seminole chief, and his band, to the
west, and was stationed in their midst, at
I urt Towson, to hold them in subjection,
lie afterwards joined Gen. Scott in Mexico..
i«nd moved from the lower Rio Grande to
the rendezvous near \'era Cruz, and in the
landing at that place, his colors were the
first displayed on the beach. He bore a dis-
tinguished part in the siege of Vera Cruz,
the battles of Cerro Gordo and Cherubusco,
and the capture of the City of Mexico. He
received the rank of brevet major "for gal-
lant and meritorious conduct in the battles
of Contreras and Cherubusco. After the
war, he was on duty in Kansas and Minne-
sota until 1854. when he organized the
Military Asylum at Harrodsburg, Kentucky,
and remained there until he was appointed
lieutenant-governor of the Soldiers* Home,
near Washington City, in which position he
remained until March 8, 1864, when he was
retired on account of age. He died, in
Louisville, Kentucky, March 11, 1881. He
married (first) Ann Clark Bullitt, of Louis-
ville, Kentucky ; and (second) Maria Brooke
Kelly, of New Orleans, Louisiana.
Seawell, John Tyler, son of John B. Sea- well, and Maria Henry Tyler, his wife, daughter of Governor John Tyler, was born ill Williamsburg in December, 1808. He was eminent for his oratorical powers and legal attainments ; and bore a strong resemblance to his uncle. President John Tyler. He served often in the legislature and was a strong states rights man. He was father of the authoress, Molly Elliot Seawell. His brother, Machen Boswell, studied at William and Mary College in 1839-40, studied law and was regarded as one of the best chancery lawyers in the state. An uncle was Gen.
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