Timothy Upham



Timothy Upham (September 9, 1783-November 2, 1855) American soldier in the war of 1812. At the Siege of Fort Erie while he was in command of his regiment, he did gallant service with his regiment, in going to the rescue, by special order of Gen. Jacob Brown, of General Miller.

He was the son of Rev. Timothy Upham, of Deertield, New Hampshire. His mother was Hannah, the daughter of Rev. Nathaniel Gookin, of North Hampton. Timothy Upham moved to Portsmouth, New Hampshire in 1807, and opened a store in Market street.

In June, 1811, he was appointed, by Governor John Langdon, one of his aids, with rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He continued in business as a merchant until 1812, when, in anticipation of a war with Great Britain, he was commissioned as Major of the 11th U.S. Infantry on March 12, of that year. In June following he was appointed to command the detachment of troops from New Hampshire ordered to garrison Fort McClary in Portsmouth Harbor, by Governor William Plumer. In September he joined his regiment at Plattsburgh, New York, January 15, 1813, he was ordered to Portland as superintendent of the recruiting district of Maine. In the spring he joined his regiment, and was detailed to command a battalion which was to join Gen. Hampton's army preparing to attack Montreal. On this futile expedition, Major (now Lieutenant-Colonel) Upham fought his battalion with credit at the Battle of Crysler's Farm. Just before this expedition he had been promoted to the Lieutenant-Colonelcy of the 21st Regiment on March 12, 1813. On September 14, 1814, he was in command of his regiment, at the "sortie of Fort Erie," and did gallant service with his regiment, in going to the rescue, by special order of Gen. Jacob Brown, of its former gallant commander, General Miller. At the close of this campaign, with impaired health, Col. Upham was ordered upon recruiting service.

At the close of the war he resigned his commission and was honorably discharged on June 15, 1815. In 1816 was appointed Collector of Customs at Portsmouth, and continued in that office for thirteen years. On May 15, 1819, he was appointed Brigadier General of the 1st Brigade, 1st Division New Hampshire Militia, and was promoted to Major General of the Division May 19, 1820, upon the resignation of General Clement Storer. This office he resigned May 13, 1823.

After leaving the Custom-House in 1829, he again entered upon commercial pursuits. In 1830 he made an unsuccessful bid for the office of Governor of the State of New Hampshire, running on the Republican Party ticket and losing to Matthew Harvey. In 1841 he was appointed Navy Agent at Portsmouth by President Harrison. He soon resigned this office, and in 1845 removed to Charlestown, Massachusetts, following his business of a merchant in Boston. Here his success did not meet his anticipations, and, impaired in health, he retired from active business.