Brigadier General James Miller (1776-1850)
Born at Peterborough (NH); died at Temple (NH).
Lawyer; career military man; civil servant.
Portrait by U.D. Tenney, after Henry Willard.
Presented to the State by descendants, 1874.

James Miller (1776 - 1850) was born at Peterborough (NH). As a new young lawyer he started a law practice at nearby Greenfield (NH), in 1803, and he joined the state militia unit there. He was soon in charge of the company of artillery attached to the local militia, and he was noticed by General Benjamin Pierce, a Revolutionary War hero with a strong interest in the state militia. Pierce recommended that Miller be commissioned a major with the 4th Regiment of U.S. Infantry, stationed at Fort Independence in Boston harbor. Miller's commission was dated March 3, 1809.

In 1811 Miller's unit was ordered to Vincennes (IN), to fight Indians. He was promoted to Colonel for his work during the unit's move west. Then in May 1812 they were ordered to march to Detroit (MI), to join General Hull's army. War with Britain was declared (June 1812) and Hull determined to attack British Canada; but he surrendered to the British. Two thousand Americans were made prisoner at Fort Detroit.

Miller was part of a prisoner exchange in 1813, but not until 1814 was Miller a part of real action, when, as Colonel of the 21st Infantry, Miller led his men at Chippewa, Lundy's Lane and Erie. Ordered to capture a battery at Lundy's Lane, Miller said, "I will try, sir!" On the third try Miller and men succeeded in their mission. Miller was made a brigadier general by a grateful U.S. Congress, but he left the military in 1819, to be the first governor of Arkansas Territory. Returning an invalid in 1823 he refused a seat in Congress and became Customs Collector for Salem and Beverly (MA). He held the position 1824/50.

Location: First Floor, State House