WASHINGTON, John Marshall, soldier, born in Virginia in October, 1797; died at sea, 24 December, 1853. He was graduated at the United States military academy in 1814, and promoted 3d lieutenant of artillery, 17 July, 1817, 2d lieutenant, 20 March, 1818, and 1st lieutenant, 23 May, 1820. On the reorganization of the army in 1821 he was transferred to the 4th regiment of artillery, and during 1824-'5 he served as instructor of mathematics in the artillery-school of practice at Fort Monroe. On 23 May, 1830, he received the brevet of captain for faithful service for ten years in one grade, and on 30 May, 1832, he was promoted to the full rank. In 1833-'4 and in 1836 he was engaged in operations in the Creek nation, in 1836-'8 and 1839 in the Florida war against the Seminole Indians, and on the northern frontier during the Canada troubles of 1839-'40. In the summer of 1846 Captain Washington, then in command of a light battery of eight guns, joined General John E. Wool's division, and, after a most arduous march through a barren country, took part with it in the battle of Buena Vista. On the first day of the battle he was placed by General Wool to guard the pass of La Angostura, near the right of the line, the loss of which would have brought inevitable defeat, and he held it against the most vigorous attacks of overwhelming numbers. On the second day, when three regiments of Illinois and Kentucky troops were overpowered by a greatly superior force, he repelled the enemy, and by judicious management covered the retreat of these confused masses, thereby saving the lives of hundreds who would inevitably have been cut to pieces. Holding as he did the key-point of the American position during the entire action, his battery was the constant object of attack from the enemy, and each of these attacks was repelled with promptness and gallantry, on 16 February, just six days before the battle, Captain Washington had been promoted major of the 3d regiment of artillery, and he was subsequently brevetted lieutenant-colonel for " gallant and meritorious conduct in the battle of Buena Vista." He was acting governor of Saltillo, Mexico, from 24 June till 14 December, 1847, chief of artillery of General Wool's division from 12 March till 9 December, 1847, and of the Army of Occupation from 9 December, 1847, till 30 May, 1848, and in command of an expedition to Santa Fe, New Mexico, in 1848. From October, 1848, till October, 1849, Colonel Washington was in command of the 9th military department and civil and military governor of New Mexico. He was with his regiment, the 3d artillery, on board the steamer " San Francisco " when she was wrecked off the Capes of the Delaware in December, 1853. With numerous other officers and 180 soldiers he was drowned.