BOYNTON, Edward Carlisle, soldier, born in Vermont about 1825. He was graduated at West Point in 1846, assigned to the 2d artillery as brevet second lieutenant, and ordered at once to join the army in Mexico. He was with General Taylor at the front of the invading force, and participated in the siege of Vera Cruz and the battles of Contreras and Churubusco, in which last engagement he was severely wounded. He was promoted second lieutenant 16 February, and first lieutenant 20 August, 1847, and was brevetted captain at the same time. He was an instructor at West Point in 1848-'55. In 1855-'6 he accompanied the expedition against the remnant of the Seminole Indians in Florida. He resigned 16 February, 1856, and accepted the professorship of chemistry in the University of Mississippi, which he held until dismissed in 1861 for "evincing a want of attachment to the government of the confederate states." He declined the colonelcy of a volunteer regiment, and was reappointed to the United States army as captain in the 11th infantry, 23 September, 1861. He was at once assigned to duty at the military academy, first as adjutant and afterward as quartermaster, remaining at that post throughout the war, and receiving at its close the brevet of major for faithful services. He was transferred to the 29th infantry, 21 September, 1866. Maj. Boynton is the author of "History of West Point and its Military Importance during the Revolution, and the Origin and Progress of the Military Academy" (New York, 1863); a " Guide to West Point and the United States Military Academy" (1863); "Register of Cadets admitted to the Military Academy, from its Origin to June 30, 1870" (1870); "Several Orders of George Washington, Commander-in-Chief, etc., issued at Newburg" (Newburg, 1883); and of the military and naval vocabulary in Webster's "Army and Navy Dictionary" (Springfield, 1886).