The General Winfield Scott House is a historic rowhouse at 24 West 12th Street in the

Greenwich Village Greenwich Village, or simply the Village, is a neighborhood on the west side of Lower Manhattan in New York City, bounded by 14th Street (Manhattan), 14th Street to the north, Broadway (Manhattan), Broadway to the east, Houston Street to the s ...

neighborhood of

Lower Manhattan Lower Manhattan, also known as Downtown Manhattan or Downtown New York City, is the southernmost part of the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of Manhattan. The neighborhood is History of New York City, the historical birthplace o ...

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

. Built in 1851–52, the house was home to General and unsuccessful Whig presidential candidate

Winfield Scott Winfield Scott (June 13, 1786May 29, 1866) was an American military commander and political candidate. He served as Commanding General of the United States Army from 1841 to 1861, and was a veteran of the War of 1812, American Indian Wars, Mexica ...

(1786–1866) from 1853 to 1855. Best known as the leader of the

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the primary Land warfare, land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of th ...

during the

Mexican–American War The Mexican–American War (Spanish language, Spanish: ''guerra de Estados Unidos-México, guerra mexicano-estadounidense''), also known in the United States as the Mexican War, and in Mexico as the United States intervention in Mexico, ...

, Scott had a significant effect on the Army for about half a century. The building was declared a

National Historic Landmark A National Historic Landmark (NHL) is a National Register of Historic Places property types, building, district, object, site, or structure that is officially recognized by the Federal government of the United States, United States government f ...

in 1973. and

Description and history

The General Winfield Scott House is located in Greenwich Village, on the south side of West 12th Street, roughly midway between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. It is one of a pair of virtually identical brownstones, four stories in height. The ground floor functions visually as a basement level, with a rusticated ashlar exterior topped by a projecting cornice and metal balustrade. The entrances and window bays on this level have keystoned rounded arches, with the entrances further articulated by paneled pilasters and scrolled brackets. Upper-level windows are set in segmental-arch openings, with eyebrow cornices. The pair of houses was built in 1851–52 by Charles Partridge, a local businessman who lived next door. Number 24 was sold to Winfield Scott in 1853 and served as his home until 1855. Although Scott is best known as an unsuccessful presidential candidate in the 1852 election, and as a successful military leader in the 1846–48

, he had a long and influential military career before these events. He was a successful drillmaster and leader in the

War of 1812 The War of 1812 was fought by the United States and its allies against the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, United Kingdom and its allies in North America. It began when the United States United States declaration of war on the Uni ...

and published a handbook on infantry tactics that was the first of its kind for the United States Army. He was also a successful negotiator, helping to defuse several crises in which military action was threatened, including the Nullification Crisis of 1832–33, and the

Aroostook War The Aroostook War (sometimes called the Pork and Beans WarLe Duc, Thomas (1947). The Maine Frontier and the Northeastern Boundary Controversy. ''The American Historical Review'' Vol. 53, No. 1 (Oct., 1947), pp. 30–41), or the Madawaska War, w ...

of 1838–39.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Scott, General Winfield, House 1852 establishments in New York (state) Greenwich Village Houses on the National Register of Historic Places in Manhattan Houses completed in 1852 National Historic Landmarks in Manhattan

Description and history

See also

References