Robert Byington Mitchell | |
---|---|
7th Governor of New Mexico Territory | |
In office 1866–1869 |
|
Preceded by | Henry Connelly |
Succeeded by | William A. Pile |
Personal details | |
Born | April 4, 1823 Mansfield, Ohio |
Died | January 26, 1882 Washington, D.C. |
(aged 58)
Political party | Democratic |
Profession | Lawyer, Politician |
Robert Byington Mitchell (April 4, 1823 – January 26, 1882) was a brigadier general in the Union Army during the American Civil War and the Governor of the New Mexico Territory from 1866 to 1869.
Mitchell was born on April 4, 1823, in Mansfield, Ohio. For some odd reason, it was recorded that he graduated from both Kenyon College and Washington College, although neither school has a record of his attendance.
He studied law in Mount Vernon, Ohio. After completing his studies, he practiced law in Mansfield. He served in the Mexican War as a second lieutenant in the 2nd Ohio Volunteers. He was elected mayor of Mount Gilead, Ohio, in 1855. Next year, he moved to Linn County, Kansas Territory. He served in the territorial legislature, as a delegate to the Leavenworth Convention, from 1857 to 1858. He served as treasurer of the Kansas Territory from 1859 to 1861. He was a delegate to the 1860 Democratic National Convention in Charleston, South Carolina.
After the start of the Civil War, Mitchell served as the Adjutant General of Kansas from May 2, 1861 to June 20, 1861. He later led the 2nd Kansas Infantry. He was badly wounded at the Battle of Wilson's Creek on August 10, 1861. He was shot from his horse while leading his regiment.