Display Patriot - P-187958 - David HUMPHREYS

David HUMPHREYS

SAR Patriot #: P-187958

The following information was assembled from numerous sources and cannot be used directly as proof of Qualifying Service or Lineage.
It is considered a research aid and is intended to assist in locating sources that can be used as proof.

State of Service: CT Qualifying Service: Colonel

Birth: 10 Jul 1752 Derby / / CT
Death: 21 Feb 1818 New Haven / / CT

Qualifying Service Description:

Aide-de-Camp to General George Washington

Additional References:

Appletons' Cyclopedia of American Biography; Volume: Volume III, pg 312
“The Record of Connecticut Men in the Military and Naval Service During the War of the Revolution, 1775-1783,”Copyright date: 1889; Editor: Henry Phelps Johnston pg 142, 312, 338, 449

Spouse:
Children:

Members Who Share This Ancestor
None^*

^*This means that the NSSAR has no applications for this Patriot on file.
Instead the information provided is best effort, and from volunteers who have either researched grave sites, service records, or something similar.
There is no documentation available at NSSAR HQ to order.

Burial:

Grove Street (aka Westminster of Yale) Cemetery_(C-0372443)

Location:

New Haven / New Haven / CT / USA

Find A Grave Cemetery #:

1607917

Grave Plot #:

Lot 5 Cedar

Grave GPS Coordinates:

41.313775 / -72.927052

Find A Grave Memorial #:

11898

Marker Type:

SAR Marker

SAR Grave Dedication Date:

4 July 2017

Comments:

Photo displayed with permission from Ethan Stewart

Directions to Cemetery / Gravesite:

Photo: 1 of 2

Photo: 2 of 2

Author: Mr. Ethan Allen Stewart Sr

He was born in Derby, CT. Humphreys graduated from Yale in 1771 with distinguished honors. While at Yale, he founded the Brothers in Unity. After graduation Humphreys became a principal at the Public School in Wethersfield, CT.

In July 1776, Humphreys enlisted in the Continental Army as a volunteer adjutant in the 2^nd CT. Regiment, then stationed in New York. He later saw action in the battle following the burning of Danbury, CT. and in a later raid on SG Harbor, NY. In that raid he was detailed to report the success directly to General George Washington and this was probably their first meeting.

Humphreys was promoted to Captain and Major. He served on the staffs of General Parsons, Israel Putnam and Nathanael Greene. On June 23, 1780, Humphreys was appointed aid-de-camp of Washington’s staff, and he became a confidential friend and adviser to the General.

After the Battle of Yorktown, Washington entrusted the surrendered British colors, along with the General's report on the battle, to Humphreys and another aide for delivery to Congress. A painting of Humphreys arriving with them, titled "The Delivery of the Standards” to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia, November, 1781," now hangs at the headquarters of the New Haven Museum and Historical Society in CT., which also has a ceremonial sword that Congress voted be presented to Humphreys. The sword was presented in 1786 by Gen. Henry Knox. Humphreys was also commissioned a lieutenant-colonel, with his commission backdated to his appointment as an aide to Washington.

After the War, Humphreys became an Original Member of the CT. Society of the Cincinnati.

In 1791, Humphreys had the distinction of being the first minister appointed to a foreign country under the Constitution, when he was appointed Minister to Portugal, the first neutral country to recognize the United States. In that post he negotiated the ransomed release of American prisoners from the Dey of Tripoli.

In 1796 he was appointed as Minister to Spain, which then controlled the Mississippi River and all of Latin America except for Brazil. John Quincy Adams succeeded him in Lisbon. He remained minister to Spain until 1801, and during his stay there met and married Anne Frances Bulkeley.

In 1802, Humphreys bought a herd of Merino Sheep in Spain and imported them to Derby, CT. and achieved the reputation as the best producer of broad cloth in the country. Humphreys was also a Poet and Author and a member of the CT. General Assembly.

Humphreys died in New Haven, CT. and is buried in Grove Street Cemetery, New Haven, CT.

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