biography
| name: |
Kearny, Stephen Watts
|
| sex:
| male
|
| lived:
| (1794–1848)
|
| biography:
| US soldier, born in Newark, New Jersey, USA. The youngest of 15 children, he joined the army as the War of 1812 approached. From 1819 on he served on the western frontier, where he achieved a reputation as a tough disciplinarian. He conquered the territory of New Mexico shortly after the outbreak of war with Mexico, and then led a small force westward. After joining in the fighting that led to the taking of Los Angeles in early 1847, he engaged in jurisdictional conflicts with other Americans in California. He later served as military governor of Vera Cruz and Mexico City, and died of a disease he contracted there. |
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