James Sterrett
James Sterrett (–May 27, 1825) was a career army officer in the early republic period of the United States. Born in central Pennsylvania, and originally an artillerist, he served under
Anthony Wayne and was involved in the
Northwest Indian War in the
Northwest Territory. He participated in the transfer of the
Natchez District and Louisiana to the United States. He resigned his commission and went into business around 1805. He was a familiar of major American figures of the territorial period in the Mississippi River Valley, for instance general
James Wilkinson. He was thus tangentially involved in the long-running "no, ''you're'' a treasonous rascal" disputes resulting the collapse of the
Daniel Clark–James Wilkinson business partnership, the court martial of
Thomas Butler, the
Burr conspiracy, and the allegations that Wilkinson was an agent of the Spanish government. Sterrett worked for a time as an editor of the ''Louisiana Gazette'' newspaper, and as a cotton factor. He was briefly partners with
Henry Clay's brother John Clay in a commission merchant firm called Clay & Sterrett. At approximately age 50, Sterrett may have volunteered to participate in the defense of New Orleans during the
War of 1812, as there is an account of him being injured during the
battle of January 8. He was appointed to be an external revenue officer at the
New Orleans Customs House in 1820 and worked there, selling fire insurance on the side, until his death in 1825.
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