George Wright was born in Norwich, Vermont on October 21, 1803. He was the oldest of three children. George graduated from West Point on July 1, 1822, twenty-fourth in a class of forty.
On January 3, 1856 Colonel Wright was given the command of the Columbia River District of which there were five forts: Fort Vancouver, Fort Steilacoom, Fort Dalles, Fort Lane and Fort Orford. He was ordered by General John E. Wool to move the district headquarters from Fort Vancouver to Fort Dalles.
Colonel Wright was appointed brigadier general on December 19, 1864. He was sworn in at that rank on May 30, 1865. On June 27, 1865 Brigadier General George Wright was given the command of the Department of the Columbia. The area of command covered the state of Oregon and the territories of Washington and Idaho.
The above information, along with many more details on Brigadier General George Wright, may be obtained by reading the book General George Wright: Guardian of the Pacific Coast written by Carl P. Schlicke and published by University of Oklahoma Press. A copy is available for check-out at the Colonel Wright Elementary School Media Center.