Wright, George, brigadier-general, was born Oct. 21, 1803, at Norwich, Vt., in the picturesque valley of the Connecticut river. There he received his early education at Partridge's military school, which fitted him for West Point, where he was graduated on July 1, 1822, and assigned to the 3d infantry, in which he served on frontier duty and was its accomplished adjutant for five years. Upon the creation of the 8th infantry he was transferred to it with advanced rank in consideration of his soldierly qualifications. The success of the army in Florida, following the failure of the Armistead campaign of 1840, was in no small degree due to Wright, whose efficiency won for him the esteem and confidence of the army and the brevet of major from the government for his "zeal, energy, and perseverance." He accompanied Scott's army in the invasion of Mexico, was engaged in every conflict from the siege of Vera Cruz to the assault of Molino del Rey, where he intrepidly led the stormers and was severely wounded. For his "gallant and meritorious services" in this war he received the brevets of lieutenant-colonel and colonel. Upon the creation of new regiments in 1855 he was placed at the head of the 9th infantry, and the following year, upon the breaking out of Indian hostilities in Oregon and Washington territories, was ordered with his regiment to Fort Vancouver. There, in command of the northwestern district, he so severely punished the hostile tribes that to this day Wright's name is a terror in their habitation. At the breaking out of the Civil war, Col. Wright was appointed a brigadier-general of volunteers and assigned to the important command of the Department of the Pacific, and it was the sleepless vigilance, unflagging energy, wise prudence, and uncompromising yet unpretending patriotism of Gen. Wright and his coadjutors which saved this vast region from the horrors of civil war. In 1865 Gen. Wright was ordered to the command of the newly created Department of Columbia, and while proceeding to his headquarters was drowned, July 30, in the wreck of the steamer Brother Jonathan off the coast of southern Oregon.