Edmund Kirby (army officer)

Edmund Kirby (1794-1849) was an American army officer who served in the War of 1812, the Second Seminole War, and the Mexican-American War.

Born in Litchfield, Connecticut, Kirby graduated from Yale College in 1815. He entered the United States Army as a third lieutenant in the artillery in December 1815. He received several promotions throughout his career, eventually achieving the rank of lieutenant colonel.

During the War of 1812, although joining after most of the major battles, Kirby served on the Niagara frontier. In the Second Seminole War (1835-1842), he served with distinction and was brevetted to the rank of major for gallantry.

Kirby played a significant role in the Mexican-American War (1846-1848). He served as a paymaster and was noted for his efficient handling of army finances. He was brevetted to the rank of colonel for his meritorious conduct during the war.

Edmund Kirby died of cholera in Brazos Santiago, Texas, in 1849, while still in service. He is buried in the City Cemetery in Laredo, Texas. Kirby Barracks at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, is named in his honor. His son, General Edmund Kirby Smith, was a prominent Confederate general during the American Civil War.