Charles Francis Lott (1781 – July 8. 1866) ^{[1] [2] [3]} was a New Jersey physician and a surgeon who served in the War of 1812, in which he raised a company of light horse cavalry and became a medical director and assistant adjutant general.

Life and career

Born in Princeton, New Jersey, Lott was the only child of Peter and Mary (Heyer) Lott. ^[4] His father served in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, and Lott "remembered the battle of Princeton as well as that of Trenton" from his childhood. ^[5] He studied medicine with Dr. Moses Scott, ^{[1] [2]} and graduated in Philadelphia in 1805 and settled in New Mills, New Jersey (later Pemberton) in 1806 or 1807. Overall, he practiced medicine there for thirty years. ^{[1] [2]}

When the War of 1812 began, Lott raised a company of "light horse" and "while he would not accept the captaincy, he served as lieutenant of the company of patriots". ^[6] During the war, he was an assistant surgeon, with the rank of captain in the regiment of Major Samuel Joseph Read. ^{[1] [2]} Over the course of his service, he became medical director and assistant adjutant general, ^[7] and "occupied a military station near the mouth of the Delaware river, at Red Bank, where he also held the position of divisional medical director". ^[8]

Returning to New Jersey, "his practice was quite extensive", ^[1] and included the furnaces in Speedwell, Hanover and Batsto, and to the County almshouse. ^[2] During this time, Lott "also he became a director in the Farmers' and Mechanics' bank, located at Mount Holly". ^[8] He was listed as a county commissioner of Burlington County, New Jersey, in 1818, ^[9] and again in 1822. ^[10] In 1819, Lott was a charter member of St. John's Commandery No. 4, Knights Templar. ^[4] Lott retired from the practice of medicine in New Jersey in 1835, ^[2] and lived in Trenton until the spring of 1836, when Lott and his family moved to Quincy, Illinois. ^[7] In 1837 he went to St. Louis, Missouri, where he practiced medicine and "engaged in the whole sale drug business for several years". ^[4] He returned to the East, ^{[1] [2]} residing for a time in Philadelphia before moving to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and finally moving in 1849 to Quakertown, Pennsylvania, where he remained until his death. ^{[1] [4]}

Personal life and death

On November 5, 1809, Lott married Edith N. Lamb, a daughter of Colonel Jacob Lamb, with whom Lott had six sons and two daughters. ^{[1] [3]} One of his sons, Charles Fayette Lott, born July 1, 1824, became a state legislator and judge in Butte County, California. ^[7] When Charles Fayette sought to travel to California, Lott opposed it and cut off funds to the son, who then mortgaged property to be able to make the journey. ^[6] Lott's youngest son, Bushrod W. Lott, born May 1, 1826, went on to become a political figure in Minnesota, and the first mayor of Saint Paul, Minnesota. ^[6]

Edith died in October 1827. ^[3] In July 1848, while living in Philadelphia, Lott married a second time to Eliza Bewley, widow of Nathan Bewley. ^[3] From this marriage, a daughter, Annie, was born. Lott died of paralysis at the age of in the 85, and was buried in the Moravian Cemetery at Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. ^{[1] [3]} Eliza Lott, having then been twice widowed, survived Lott by 32 years, dying in Quakertown in 1898, at the age of 89. ^[11]

References