June 8, 1792- September 10, 1860

Cullum # 99. 

• A cadet at USMA from May 22, 1812 to March 30, 1814 when he graduated and was promoted to second lieutenant.
• Principal Assistant Professor of Mathematics, USMA, April 1, 1814 to December 1, 1816.
• At West Point with Company of Bombardiers, Sappers and Miners, 1816-1818.
• Resigned, July 23, 1818.

Pappus, p. 100, says that John Wright was a nephew of Alden Partridge, but that is incorrect. He was a double first cousin, i.e., his father, also named John Wright (1744-1799) married Olive Partridge (1751-?), while her brother Samuel Partridge (1748-1834) married his sister Elizabeth Wright. Alden Partridge (USMA 1806, C#15) was the son of Samuel and Elizabeth and this John Wright was the son of John and Olive.

This John Wright has a brother Roswell Wright (1701-1806) who had a son named George Wright (1803-1865) who graduated from West Point in 1822, C#309, but does not seem to have any connection with mathematics. I find it a bit strange that a relative of Alden Partridge would come to USMA on September 14, 1818, after Alden was court martialed, but perhaps he was all set to come before that happened.

Remarks:

• Goddard and Partridge in their A History of Norwich Vermont, p. 251, indicate that John Wright graduated USMA on July 23, 1818, but there is no one with this name graduating then in the Cullum register. Other information seems to be OK.