Francis Vinton

The Reverend Francis Vinton (August 20, 1809 – September 29, 1872) was a West Point trained Army officer, Harvard educated lawyer, civil engineer who worked on the Eastern Railroad, and, ultimately, a well-known Episcopal minister.

Early life Vinton was born in Providence, Rhode Island on August 20, 1809. He was a son of silversmith and merchant David Vinton and Mary ( Atwell) Vinton. Among his siblings were Amos Maine Vinton (who married Frances Jones Dyer, sister of Gov. Elisha Dyer), Maj. John Rogers Vinton, of the Third Artillery (who was killed at the Siege of Veracruz during the Mexican–American War), Gen. David Hammond Vinton, Elizabeth Vinton (wife of George Sears Greene), the Rev. Alexander Hamilton Vinton.

Career Following his graduation, he was appointed a Second Lieutenant in the Third Artillery, and reported for duty at Fort Independence, Boston Harbor, the following autumn. While in the military, he entered Law School of Harvard University. Unexpectedly detailed for engineer duty, he had to suspend his studies, serving as a civil engineer in surveying the Boston and Providence Railroad and was first engineer on the Eastern Railroad in 1831 to 1832. In 1849, he was chosen Bishop of the Diocese of Indiana, but declined the honor. A few years before his death, he was appointed to the Professorship of Canon Law at the General Theological Seminary.

Published works Vinton was the author of Annals of Cadet Life (1830), Evidences of Christianity (1855), and Manual Commentary on the General Canon Law of the Protestant Episcopal Church (1870). a daughter of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry and Elizabeth Champlin ( Mason) Perry.

Francis Vinton Jr. (1842–1881), a professor of music who died unmarried in Portland, Oregon. Henry Gilliant Vinton (1844–1860), who died aged 16. Arthur Dudley Vinton (1852–1906), an author, lawyer and inventor; he died unmarried. Gertrude Vinton (1856–1934), who established a girls' school in Brooklyn, which she ran for ten years before establishing another girls' school in Ridgefield, Connecticut, which she also ran for ten years; she died unmarried. Reginald Vinton (1860–1860), who died young. Paul Vinton (1863–1863), who died young. After a funeral at Trinity Church, he was buried at Island Cemetery in Newport, Rhode Island.