The youngest son of David and Mary Armistead Wright obtained his early education
at Captain Patrick's Military Academy in Middletown, Connecticut. He studied
medicine under Dr. William Warren of Edenton, North Carolina and graduated from
the University of Pennsylvania. In 1833, he married Penelope Margaret Creecy.
They lived in Norfolk, where Dr. Wright earned an outstanding reputation in his
profession. He was especially noted for his work during the yellow fever
epidemic. During the Federal occupation of Norfolk, in the Civil War, Dr.
Wright, a non-combatant, shot and killed a Union officer. High passion dominated
the trial, with ample evidence that the shooting was provoked and justifiable.
The verdict was a forgone conclusion and Dr. Wright was executed by the United
States military authorities. That left his widow alone and nine children
fatherless.

(bio provided by George Seitz)

Lt. Sanborn was shot and killed by Dr David Minton Wright, a Confederate sympathizer and former slave owner, on 11 Jul 1863 in Norfolk, Virginia.

The murder was a high profile case which attracted the attention of President Abraham Lincoln, who was instrumental in the selection of expert witnesses chosen to testify to Wright's state of mind. Wright, determined sane, was found guilty and sentenced to be executed. He was hanged for his crime on 23 Oct 1863.

--------

To John G. Foster

Executive Mansion, Washington, August 3, 1863.

Major General Foster, or whoever may be in command of the Military Department, with Head Quarters at Fort-Monroe, Va.

If Dr. Wright, on trial at Norfolk, has been, or shall be convicted, send me a transcript of his trial and conviction, and do not let execution be done upon him, until my further order.

A. LINCOLN

--------

To Dr. John P. Gray

Executive Mansion,
Washington, September 10th. 1863.

Sir,

Dr. David M. Wright is in military custody at Norfolk, Virginia, having been, by a military commission, tried for murder, and sentenced to death, his execution awaiting the order of the Major General in command of that Military Department, or of the President of the United States. The record is before me; and a question is made as to the sanity of the accused. You will please proceed to the Military Department whose head-quarters are at Fort-Monroe, and take in writing all evidence which may be offered on behalf of Dr. Wright and against him, and any, in addition, which you may find within your reach, and deem pertinent; all said evidence to be directed to the question of Dr. Wright's sanity or insanity, and not to any other questions; you to preside, with power to exclude evidence which shall appear to you clearly not pertinent to the question.

When the taking of the evidence shall be closed, you will report the same to me, together with your own conclusions, as to Dr. Wright's sanity, both at the time of the homocide, and the time of your examination. On reaching Fort-Monroe, you will present this letter to the officer then commanding that Department, and deliver to him a copy of the same; upon which he is hereby directed to notify Hon. L. J. Bowden, and Hon. L. H. Chandler, of the same; to designate some suitable person in his command to appear for the government, as Judge Advocate or Prosecuting Attorney; to provide for the attendance of all such witnesses before you as may be desired by either party, or by yourself, and who may be within convenient reach of you; to furnish you a suitable place, or places for conducting the examination; and to render you such other reasonable assistance in the premises as you may require. If you deem it proper, you will examine Dr. Wright personally, and you may, in your discretion, require him to be present during the whole, or any part, of the taking of the evidence. The Military are hereby charged to see that an escape does not occur.

Yours truly,

A. LINCOLN

--------

GENERAL ORDERS,
Hdqrs. Norfolk and Portsmouth, Numbers 14.
Norfolk, Va., October 22, 1863.

The time set for the execution of Dr. David M. Wright by General Orders, Numbers 17, headquarters Department of Virginia and North Carolina, promulgated in General Orders, Numbers 12, from these headquarters, having been by order of the President postponed until Friday, the 23d, the execution will take place to-morrow (Friday) morning, October 23, 1863, at 10 o'clock.

By command of Brigadier General James Barnes:

George H. Johnston,
Assistant Adjutant-General

--------

Fort Monroe, Va., October 23, 1863
Major General H. W. Halleck,
General-in-Chief:

Dr. Wright was executed this morning at Norfolk, according to orders. Everything passed off very orderly.

J. G. Foster,
Major-General, Commanding

Bio provided by P J Horn

The youngest son of David and Mary Armistead Wright obtained his early education
at Captain Patrick's Military Academy in Middletown, Connecticut. He studied
medicine under Dr. William Warren of Edenton, North Carolina and graduated from
the University of Pennsylvania. In 1833, he married Penelope Margaret Creecy.
They lived in Norfolk, where Dr. Wright earned an outstanding reputation in his
profession. He was especially noted for his work during the yellow fever
epidemic. During the Federal occupation of Norfolk, in the Civil War, Dr.
Wright, a non-combatant, shot and killed a Union officer. High passion dominated
the trial, with ample evidence that the shooting was provoked and justifiable.
The verdict was a forgone conclusion and Dr. Wright was executed by the United
States military authorities. That left his widow alone and nine children
fatherless.

(bio provided by George Seitz)

Lt. Sanborn was shot and killed by Dr David Minton Wright, a Confederate sympathizer and former slave owner, on 11 Jul 1863 in Norfolk, Virginia.

The murder was a high profile case which attracted the attention of President Abraham Lincoln, who was instrumental in the selection of expert witnesses chosen to testify to Wright's state of mind. Wright, determined sane, was found guilty and sentenced to be executed. He was hanged for his crime on 23 Oct 1863.

--------

To John G. Foster

Executive Mansion, Washington, August 3, 1863.

Major General Foster, or whoever may be in command of the Military Department, with Head Quarters at Fort-Monroe, Va.

If Dr. Wright, on trial at Norfolk, has been, or shall be convicted, send me a transcript of his trial and conviction, and do not let execution be done upon him, until my further order.

A. LINCOLN

--------

To Dr. John P. Gray

Executive Mansion,
Washington, September 10th. 1863.

Sir,

Dr. David M. Wright is in military custody at Norfolk, Virginia, having been, by a military commission, tried for murder, and sentenced to death, his execution awaiting the order of the Major General in command of that Military Department, or of the President of the United States. The record is before me; and a question is made as to the sanity of the accused. You will please proceed to the Military Department whose head-quarters are at Fort-Monroe, and take in writing all evidence which may be offered on behalf of Dr. Wright and against him, and any, in addition, which you may find within your reach, and deem pertinent; all said evidence to be directed to the question of Dr. Wright's sanity or insanity, and not to any other questions; you to preside, with power to exclude evidence which shall appear to you clearly not pertinent to the question.

When the taking of the evidence shall be closed, you will report the same to me, together with your own conclusions, as to Dr. Wright's sanity, both at the time of the homocide, and the time of your examination. On reaching Fort-Monroe, you will present this letter to the officer then commanding that Department, and deliver to him a copy of the same; upon which he is hereby directed to notify Hon. L. J. Bowden, and Hon. L. H. Chandler, of the same; to designate some suitable person in his command to appear for the government, as Judge Advocate or Prosecuting Attorney; to provide for the attendance of all such witnesses before you as may be desired by either party, or by yourself, and who may be within convenient reach of you; to furnish you a suitable place, or places for conducting the examination; and to render you such other reasonable assistance in the premises as you may require. If you deem it proper, you will examine Dr. Wright personally, and you may, in your discretion, require him to be present during the whole, or any part, of the taking of the evidence. The Military are hereby charged to see that an escape does not occur.

Yours truly,

A. LINCOLN

--------

GENERAL ORDERS,
Hdqrs. Norfolk and Portsmouth, Numbers 14.
Norfolk, Va., October 22, 1863.

The time set for the execution of Dr. David M. Wright by General Orders, Numbers 17, headquarters Department of Virginia and North Carolina, promulgated in General Orders, Numbers 12, from these headquarters, having been by order of the President postponed until Friday, the 23d, the execution will take place to-morrow (Friday) morning, October 23, 1863, at 10 o'clock.

By command of Brigadier General James Barnes:

George H. Johnston,
Assistant Adjutant-General

--------

Fort Monroe, Va., October 23, 1863
Major General H. W. Halleck,
General-in-Chief:

Dr. Wright was executed this morning at Norfolk, according to orders. Everything passed off very orderly.

J. G. Foster,
Major-General, Commanding

Bio provided by P J Horn