George H. Sharpe

Sharpe and John C. Babcock

Born February 26, 1828, in Kingston, New York,[1] Sharpe attended Yale University and graduated from Rutgers University in 1847.[1] He entered private practice in New York City, New York from 1848 to 1851,[1] with the firm of Bidwell & Strong (now known as Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft).[2] He was Secretary of the United States Legation in Vienna, Austrian Empire for the United States Department of State from 1851 to 1852.[1] He resumed private practice in Kingston from 1854 to 1861.[1] He served in the United States Army during the American Civil War from 1861 to 1865, attaining the rank of Major General.[1] He initially served as Captain of Company B of the 20th New York State Militia (known as the "Ulster Guard") for three-months service.[3][4] He served as Chief of the Bureau of Military Information from 1863 to 1865.[1] He was a Special Agent in Europe for the United States Department of State in 1867.[1] He was the United States Marshal for the Southern District of New York from 1870 to 1873.[1] He was Surveyor of Customs in New York City from 1873 to 1878.[1] He was a member of the New York State Assembly from 1879 to 1883, serving as Speaker from 1880 to 1881.[1] He served as trade commissioner to Central America and South America.[1]

Sharpe was nominated by President Benjamin Harrison on July 2, 1890, to the Board of General Appraisers, to a new seat created by 26 Stat. 131.[1] He was confirmed by the United States Senate on July 16, 1890, and received his commission on November 16, 1890.[1] His service terminated on March 1, 1899, due to his resignation.[1] He was succeeded by William Barberie Howell.[1]

Sharpe died on January 13, 1900, in New York City.[1]

Sharpe's parents were Henry Sharpe (1782-1830) and Helen Hasbrouck Sharpe (1797-1886). His grandfather was Abraham J. Hasbrouck, and great-grandfather, Joseph Hasbrouck, was a lieutenant colonel in the Revolutionary War. He is also a descendant of Louis DuBois.

Sharpe was married to Caroline Hone Hasbrouck, daughter of Abraham Bruyn Hasbrouck (and his second cousin once removed) and their children were Severyn Bruyn Sharpe, a county judge, Henry Granville Sharpe, a United States Army officer, and Katherine Lawrence Sharpe who married Ira Davenport. His granddaughter, Katharine Davenport Sharpe (Severyn's daughter) married Albro Newton Dana, a grandson of James Dwight Dana. He died while visiting the Davenport's residence at 31 East 39th Street in Manhattan.[5] He was buried at Wiltwyck Cemetery in Kingston.

• Frank Leslie: Famous Leaders and Battle Scenes of the Civil War (New York, 1896)

• His lecture on The Last Hours of the Confederacy, in the New York Times, February 21, 1876
• Political Graveyard
• History of US Marshal, Southern District of NY
• America's Unknown Intelligence Czar in American Heritage, October 2004.
• George H. Sharpe at Find a Grave