General Society of the War of 1812

The General Society of the War of 1812, commonly known as the Society of the War of 1812, is a patriotic organization headquartered in Aberdeen, New Jersey. It was organized in 1814 at Baltimore.

Background
The Maryland Society of the War of 1812 was organized at Baltimore on September 14, 1814 (two days after the Battle of North Point), by veterans who had defeated Major-General Robert Ross's forces there.

The Pennsylvania Society of the War of 1812 was organized at Philadelphia on January 9, 1854 (one day after the anniversary of the Battle of New Orleans), by a group of veterans who met in general convention at Independence Hall, having responded to a call issued by Joel B. Sutherland (himself a veteran and former member of Congress). Ostensibly called to draft resolutions pertaining to federal bounty land legislation, they acknowledged the need to organize at the national level for mutual support and to perpetuate the history of the War of 1812. They met again a year later in Washington, D.C., where they were received by President Franklin Pierce at the White House and lobbied members of Congress to secure the federal legislation, which was passed into law as the Bounty Land Act of 1855 on March 3.

Amalgamation
On April 14, 1894, the Maryland and the Pennsylvania societies met at Philadelphia to organize a general society. Being a federated society, they opted for the September 14, 1814, establishment date (the date the Maryland Society was first organized). The General Society has since increased to 33 State societies.

Membership
The society admits men who are lineal descendants of American veterans who served on active federal duty during the War of 1812.

Notable members

 * Brigadier General Charles W. Abbot
 * Major General John R. Brooke
 * Major General John Cadwalader
 * Brevet Major Augustus P. Davis
 * Admiral of the Navy George Dewey
 * Rear Admiral John D. Ford
 * Major General Adolphus Greely
 * President Benjamin Harrison
 * Brigadier General Tiemann N. Horn
 * Major General Marshall I. Ludington
 * The Honorable Martin O'Malley
 * Major General Theodore S. Peck
 * Brigadier General Edmund Rice
 * Brigadier General James M. J. Sanno
 * Major General Joseph Wheeler
 * Brigadier General William S. Worth