Biography and History

The Wainwright family was a prominent family of New York State. John Tillotson Wainwright (1898-1930) entered the United States Foreign Service and drowned attempting to save the lives of two others while stationed in Cuba. Thomas Lawson, following his medical studies, entered the navy in 1809 as a surgeon's mate. In 1811, Lawson left the navy and joined the army, eventually rising to serve as Surgeon General (1836-1861).

Source: From the finding aid for C0633