Justin Dimick was born on August 5, 1800, in Hartford, Connecticut. He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1819, and army officials assigned him to the light artillery. He served as an assistant professor at West Point in 1822, and he was promoted to 1^st lieutenant in the 1^st United States Artillery in May 1824. He married Mary Waldron on April 6, 1827, and they had at least six children: Catherine, born around 1837; Justin, born around 1839; Adeline, born around 1842; Frances, born around 1845; Edward, born around 1848; Otis, born around 1849.

 

He was promoted to captain in 1835. He took part in the Second Seminole War and the Mexican American War. He was promoted to major in April 1850 and to lieutenant colonel in October 1857.

 

By 1860, he was serving as commander of Fortress Monroe, and he owned $11,000 of real estate and $24,000 of personal property. He was still serving at Fortress Monroe when the Civil War began. In October 1861, he was promoted to colonel and placed in command of the prisoner of war camp at Fort Warren. He remained there until November 1863.

 

His wife died on September 5, 1864. He retired from the army in 1865, and he died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on October 13, 1871.

 

Image: Justin Dimick (courtesy National Park Service)

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