The Paymaster-General of the United States Army was a general officer who was responsible for the Pay Department of the U.S. Army.

History

The office of the Paymaster General was created through a resolution of the Continental Congress on 16 June 1775, which established "That there be one Paymaster General, and a Deputy under him, for the Army, in a separate department; that the pay for the Paymaster General himself be one hundred dollars per month, and for the Deputy Paymaster under him, fifty dollars per month."[1]

The position was abolished by consolidation of the Pay Department with the Quartermaster Department and the Subsistence Department to form the Quartermaster Corps under provisions of the army appropriation act for FY 1913 (37 Stat. 591), August 24, 1912.[2]

Office Holders

No. Name Photo Term began Term ended Notes
1 James Warren 27 July 1775[3] 19 April 1776 Office established by resolution of the Continental Congress on June 16, 1775
2 William Palfrey 27 April 1776[4] December 1780 Died in office
3 John Pierce Jr. 17 January 1781 1 August 1788 Died in office
4 Joseph Howell Jr. 28 August 1788 8 May 1792
5 Caleb Swan 8 May 1792 30 June 1808
6 Robert Brent 30 June 1808 28 August 1819
7 Nathaniel Towson 28 August 1819[5] 1 June 1821
8 Daniel Parker 1 June 1821 8 May 1822
9 Nathaniel Towson 8 May 1822 20 July 1854 Died in office
10 Benjamin Larned July 1854 6 September 1862 Died in office
11 Timothy Andrews 6 September 1862[6] 29 November 1864
12 Benjamin Brice 29 November 1864 [7] 22 February 1869[8]
13 Nathan W. Brown 22 February 1869[9] 1 January 1872
13 Benjamin Alvord 1 January 1872[10] 8 June 1880[11]
14 Nathan W. Brown 8 June 1880[11] 6 February 1882
15 William B. Rochester 17 February 1882 15 February 1890
16 William Smith 10 March 1890 25 March 1895[12]
17 Thaddeus H. Stanton 26 March 1895[13] 30 January 1899
18 Asa B. Carey 30 January 1899[14][15] 11 July 1899
19 Alfred E. Bates 12 July 1899[16] 22 January 1904
20 Francis S. Dodge 23 January 1904[17] 11 September 1906
21 Culver C. Sniffen 11 September 1906 [18] [19] 1 January 1908
22 Charles H. Whipple 1 January 1908[20] 15 February 1912
23 George R. Smith 16 February 1912[21] 24 August 1912[22] Position abolished when the Pay Department was merged with the Quartermaster and Subsistence Departments to form the Quartermaster Corps.

References

  1. ^ The Army of the United States Historical Sketches of Staff and Line... | http://www.history.army.mil
  2. ^ National Archives | Records of the Office of the Paymaster General
  3. ^ Letters of Members of the Continental Congress, Vol. 1| John Adams to James Warren
  4. ^ William Palfrey Elected Paymaster-General|Llincoln.lib.niu.edu
  5. ^ Tucker, Spencer (2012). The Encyclopedia of the War of 1812. ABC-CLIO. p. 714.
  6. ^ Appointments in the Army.; List of Nominations Recommended for Confirmation| New York Times
  7. ^ "NEWS FROM WASHINGTON.; EARLY PAYMENT OF INTEREST...NEW PAYMASTER-GENERAL". The New York Times. 14 March 1865.
  8. ^ Congressional Series of United States Public Documents. Washington: Government Printing Office. 1922. p. 642.
  9. ^ Journal of the Executive Proceedings of the Senate of the United States of America. Washington: Government Printing Office. 1887. pp. 496. Nathan W. Brown Paymaster General.
  10. ^ "Cullum's Register". Retrieved 2015-03-02. His long and valuable services now reaped their reward, he being appointed Chief of the Pay Department with the rank of Colonel, Jan. 1, 1872, and of Brigadier-General, July 22, 1876. This elevated position he held till retired from active service, June 8, 1880
  11. ^ a b "Changes in the Army: The Promotions, Appointments, Transfers, and Casualties" (PDF). The New York Times. 26 December 1880.
  12. ^ Shield: Official Publication of the Theta Delta Chi Fraternity, Volume 11
  13. ^ A New Paymaster General: Col. Thaddeus H. Stanton Succeeds Brig. Gen. William Smith, Retired-A Well-Earned Promotion | New York Times
  14. ^ U.S. Army Register for 1899
  15. ^ Carey Succeeds Stanton: President Nominates the Assistant Paymaster General of the United States Army | New York Times
  16. ^ Army Paymaster General: Col. Alfred E. Bates Expected to Succeed Gen. Asa B. Carey| New York Times
  17. ^ "Nomination of Chaffee Goes To The Senate". Los Angeles Herald. 9 January 1904. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  18. ^ "New Paymaster Is Appointed". The Evening News. 13 September 1906. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  19. ^ "Culver Channing Sniffen (Obituary)". 16 October 2023.
  20. ^ War Department Annual Reports, 1908 | Vol.II, Page 163
  21. ^ Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point | Supplement, Vol. VI-A 1910-1920
  22. ^ Army-Navy-Air Force Register and Defense Times, Volume 72. Washington. 1922. p. 137. Retrieved 4 March 2015.((cite book)): CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
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