Born:     August 18, 1813, Rutland VT 
Died:      October 16, 1884, Washington DC

• Assistant Professor of Mathematics, USMA, September 28 to November 5, 1837.
• Principal Assistant Professor of Mathematics, USMA, November 5, 1837 to August 28, 1839.

Cullum Number 728. Long biographical sketch in Cullum 1891.

Publications:

• Address before the Dialectic society of the Corps of cadets, in  commemoration of the gallant conduct of the nine graduates of the Military academy, and other officers of the United States' army, who fell in the battles which took place in Florida, on the 28th of December, 1835, and the 25th of December, 1837; the former called Dade's battle, the latter, the battle of Okee-cho-bee. Delivered at West Point, N. Y., on the 29th December, 1838. By Lieutenant Benjamin Alvord, U.S.A. New York, Wiley & Putnam, 1839. USMA: SPECIAL COLL-BSMT-B30  U410.F5A476

French, J. W. (John William), 1810?-1871. Papers. 1844-1871. USMA: MANUSCRIPTS-PERSHING CNTR  SPEC Mss. 23 items                                                                                                                              Summary:   Chaplain and Professor of Ethics, United States Military Academy. Letter, 25 Oct 1844, to Emma Gardiner discussing French's health and Miss Emma's godchild; correspondence with Mrs. Fremont and others concerning John Charles Fremont's religious persuasion; correspondence with Henry Coppee concerning the publication of a text on logic; copy of letter to Mr. Davis which mentions work on two programs for French's course on ethics, discusses grammar, describes his teaching methods, the USMA curricula and French's dealings with the [Academic] Board; correspondence, 1858, concerning donations to the Academy including a letter from C.P. McIlvaine; copy of letter, 25 Sept. 1859, from French to Delafield discussing curriculum revision; correspondence with Benjamin Alvord; copyright, 18 June 1858, for "A short course of instruction in the practical part of ethics"; correspondence, 1871, regarding publications; address delivered to the graduating class, 7 June 1863, at West Point.

• The tangencies of circles and of spheres, [Washington : Smithsonian Institution, 1856]. USMA: SPECIAL COLL-BSMT-B30  QA484 .A4 1856. 16 p., ix, leaves of plates : ill., diagrs. ; 30 cm
 Series
                 Smithsonian contributions to knowledge, v.8, art.4
                 Smithsonian Institution publication ; 80
                 Smithsonian contributions to knowledge, v. 8, art. 4
 Notes
                 Date on cover: 1855
 
• The interpretation of imaginary roots in questions of maxima and Minima, The Mathematical Monthly, April 1860.  [Rickey owns the previous volume of this journal.]

• Memoir on the intersection of circles, and the intersection of spheres, 1860. Extensions read before the National Academy of Sciences, 1878.

• Biographical sketch from the life of M.C.M. Hammond : (no. 884, Class 1836) : died January 23d, 1876, at Beech Island, S.C. : aged 61 years. Augusta, Ga. : Jowitt & Shaver, printers, [1876]. USMA: SPECIAL COLL-BSMT-B30  E340.H22 A4. 17 p. ; 23 cm

• Notes, 1878-1879. USMA: MANUSCRIPTS-PERSHING CNTR  SPEC Mss. 3 items
Summary:  Army officer and writer. Two personal notes May 17, 1878, and April 1, 1879, plus clipping of his obituary
 
• Numerous Essays and Reviews, 1833-1867. [Info from Cullum 1891.]

Genealogy:

His son Benjamin Alvord Jr. (#2948) and two g-grandsons, Alvord Rutherford (#10838) and Benjamin Alvord Spiller (#12583) are also graduates.

References:

Arney, Chris, West Point's Scientific 200: Celebration of the Bicentennial. Biographies of 200 of West Point's Most Successful and Influential Mathematicians, Scientists, Engineers, and Technologists, 2002.

Generals:  http://www.trader-skis.com/generals/union_generals/a/alvord_b.htm

DAB