The subject of our sketch, Maj. Gen. William H. French, U.S. A., was born near Baltimore. His parents, natives of Massachusetts, removed to Maryland a short time previous to his birth. He commenced his classical studies at the University of Maryland, and afterwards continued them at Columbia College, Washington, D. C., from which, in 1833 he was appointed Cadet to West Point, and graduated with honor in 1837, in the same class as Maj. Gen. Hooker, of our army, and J. Braxton Bragg. of the Rebel service. He was assigned as second Lieutenant to the 1st Regiment U. S. Artillery and ordered to accompany an expedition to Florida. He was promoted 1st Lieut. July 11, 1838, and served on the frontier until the Spring of 1840, when his Regiment was ordered to Houlton, Maine; from there he was detailed on duty with the joint Commission to run the Northeastern Boundary. Early in May, 1846, he was sent with the first reinforcements to Gen. Taylor at Brazors, Texas, and was assigned to the command of the siege train (Mortar Batteries) in front of Matamoros. After he surrender of that city, and war was formally declared, he served with Taylor’s Battery, whose command lauded in the first line at the siege of Vera Cruz. He served throughout the war with Mexico, and was brevetted Captain for gallant and meritorious conduct at the battle of Cerro Gordo, April, 1847, and Major for gallant and meritorious services at Contreras and Churabusco, August, 1817.