James Watson Webb (1802-1884) - Find a Grave Memorial

Newspaper Publisher, Diplomat. The son of Revolutionary War General Samuel Blatchley Webb, at age 12 he moved to Cooperstown to live with his brother-in-law and train as a store clerk. Webb joined the Army as a Lieutenant in 1819 and served until 1827, when he became publisher of New York City's merged Morning Courier and Enquirer newspapers. Initially a supporter of Andrew Jackson, Webb later backed Henry Clay and coined the name "Whigs" for the new party that rose in opposition to Jackson's presidency. In 1849 Webb was appointed Minister to Austria, but since he had backed Zachary Taylor over Clay for the Whig presidential nomination, Clay led Senate opposition, and Webb was not confirmed. In 1851 he was appointed Chief Engineer on the staff of New York's Governor with the rank of Brigadier General. At the start of the Civil War in 1861, by now a Republican, he declined both a commission as a Brigadier General in the Army and appointment as Minister to Turkey. He accepted the post of Minister to Brazil, a position in which he served until 1869. As Minister, Webb negotiated an agreement with his longtime acquaintance, French Emperor Napoleon III, that led to French withdrawal from Mexico and the reestablishment of Mexico's sovereign government. James Watson Webb was the father of Civil War General and Medal of Honor recipient Alexander Stewart Webb and railroad executives and philanthropists William Seward Webb and H. Walter Webb.

Bio by: Bill McKern