OVERVIEW:

FULL NAME:
George Brinton McClellan

BORN:
December 3, 1826
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

DIED:
October 29, 1885 (age 58)
Orange, New Jersey

EDUCATION:
University of Pennsylvania
U.S Military Academy  at West Point 

POLITICAL PARTY:
Democrat

HIGHLIGHTS: 
1840-1842:
Attended University of Pennsylvania 
1842-1846:
Attended U.S. Military Academy
1846-1848: 
Served in  Mexican War
1848-1851:
Instructor, U.S. Military Academy
1852:
Translated a French bayonet manual into English for the Army.
1852-1854:
Worked as an Army Surveyor on the Red River, in western territories, and on railroad routes
1855:
Promoted to Captain,
Reported on European Military Systems
1856:
Produces a cavalry manual and recommends a new saddle for the cavalry (the McClellan saddle)
1857:
Resigned from the Army,
Becomes Chief Engineer of of the Illinois Central Railroad
1858:
Supported Democrat Stephen Douglas in his Senate Campaign against Republican Abraham Lincoln
1858:
Promoted to Vice President of the Illinois Central Railroad
1860:
Became President of the Eastern Division of the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad
1861:
Appointed Major General of Ohio Volunteers
Appointed Major General of the U.S. Army
Assumed Command of the Army of the Potomac
Becomes General In Chief of the Union Army 
1862:
Removed from position as General in Chief of the Union Army  
Relinquished Command of Army of the Potomac to General Ambrose Everett Burnside
1864:
Received Democratic Nomination for President,
Resigned Commission in the Army
1865-1868;
Traveled in Europe
1868-1878:
Employed as Engineer
1870-1873:
Chief Engineer, New York City Department of Docks
1878-1881:
Governor of New Jersey 

RESOURCES:

BIOGRAPHIES:
Encyclopedia of Virginia
Library of Congress
National Park Service
Lehrman Institute
Lehrman Institute
Wikipedia

PAPERS:
Library of Congress (digitized)

PORTRAIT: