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Kearny was born in Newark, New Jersey and began studies at Columbia College in 1811, leaving school at the outbreak of the War of 1812 to join the Army. During the war he was cited for bravery and promoted to captain; afterward he continued a lifelong military career.
Immediately following the war he was assigned to the western frontier under the command of Gen. Henry Atkinson, and was involved in various military actions against Native Americans and the establishment of several frontier posts. Kearny was put in command of the Army of the West in May of 1846, and was soon afterward promoted to the rank of brigadier general.
At the outset of the Mexican American War, Kearny proceeded to Santa Fe, New Mexico at the head of a force of 1,700, taking control of the area and becoming its military governor on August 18, 1846. He ensured that a civilian government was in place there by the end of one month.
With his mission in Santa Fe complete, Kearny set out for California on September 25September 25 is the 268th day of the year (269th in leap years). There are 97 days remaining. Events 275 M. Claudius Tacitus appointed Roman emperor by the senate. 303 On a voyage preaching the gospel, Saint Fermin of Pamplona was beheaded in Amiens, Fran with a much smaller unit (about 100 men). This group, after having suffered significant attrition during the march, were fought to a standstill at the Battle of San Pasqual .
The surviving force was able to unite with navalThe United States Navy USN is the branch of the United States armed forces responsible for naval operations. Navy consists of slightly fewer than 300 ships and over 4,000 operational aircraft. It has over a half million men and women on active or ready re reinforcements who had landed in San DiegoSan Diego is a city located in the southwestern corner of the state of California (and thus in the southwestern corner of the continental United States). It is the county seat of San Diego County, California. The city is noted for its temperate climate an, under the command of Commodore Robert F. StocktonRobert Field Stockton ( 20 August 1795 7 October 1866) was a United States naval officer, notable in the capture of California during the Mexican-American War. He was born at Princeton, New Jersey, into a political family; his father Richard Stockton (176. This combined force consolidated control of San Diego in December, and in January of 1847 also took San GabrielSan Gabriel is a city located in Los Angeles County, California. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 39,804. Mission San Gabriel Arcangel, established in 1771, is the cradle of the San Gabriel Valley and one of many missions in Calif and Los AngelesThis article is about the city in California. For other uses of 'Los Angeles' see Los Angeles (disambiguation The City of Los Angeles widely known by its abbreviation L. is a large coastal metropolis in Southern California in the western United States..
Kearny, as ranking Army officer, asserted the right to be in command of the area at the end of hostilities, beginning a rivalry with Stockton. When Mexican forces in the area capitulated on January 13January 13 is the 13th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. It is still celebrated as New Year's Eve by those on the Julian calendar. There are 352 days remaining (353 in a leap year). Events 888 Odo, Count of Paris becomes King of the Franks. 1847, however, they did so to neither Stockton nor Kearny, but rather to Lt. Col. John C. FrémontJohn Charles Fremont ( January 21, 1813- July 13, 1890), birth name John Charles Fremon [Harvey, p. 192], was an American military officer, explorer, and the first candidate of the United States Republican Party for the office of President of the United S. Stockton seized upon this and appointed Frémont military governor of the area. Kearny appealed to Washington, and upon receiving confirmation of his authority took command, having Frémont relieved and arrested (he was later convicted at court-martial).
Kearny remained military governor of California through August, at which point he returned east to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas and later proceeded to Mexico, where he was appointed governor of Veracruz and later of Mexico City. He was promoted to major general In September 1848, over the heated opposition of Senator Thomas Hart Benton (Frémont's father-in-law), but died in St. Louis, Missouri the following month as a result of a tropical disease he had contracted while in Veracruz.
Kearny is the namesake (via misspelling) of Kearney, Nebraska. Kearney, a major street in downtown San Francisco is also named for him.