Born in Philadelphia. Entered the University of Pennsylvania in 1840 but left to accept an appointment to West Point in 1842. In 1846 he graduated from West Point ranked second in his class of 59.

After a brief assignment to Mexico, he returned to West Point in 1848. He was an instructer in practical military engineering. In 1851 he was assigned to the construction of Fort Delaware. By 1855 he was promoted to captain. In April 1855 he was detailed to study European military systems. He modified a Hungarian saddle that became known as the McClellan saddle.

He resigned his commission in January 1857 to become chief engineer for the Illinois Central Railroad. One of the railroad's attorneys was Abraham Lincoln. In 1860 McClellan became president of the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad. In 1860 he married Ellen Mary Marcy. They had a son and daughter.

The war interrupted his railroad career. He was given command of all the Ohio forces, militia and volunteer, on April 23, 1861. On May 13 he received the appointment as major general in command of the Department of Ohio including the states of Ohio, Illinois and Indiana. Success at Rich Mountain led to command of the Division of the Potomac.

McClellan was described as an excellent commander up to the point of contact with the enemy. He always seemed to underestimate his own strength and overestimate the strength of the enemy. He failed to press an advantage. After numerous failures, Lincoln finally relieved him of command November 7, 1862. General Burnside was given command.

In 1864 McClellan was nominated as the Democratic candidate for President. He failed in his attempt to replace his former commander in chief. Lincoln was reelected.

He was elected Governor of New Jersey and served 1878 to 1881. He died of heart trouble at Orange, New Jersey in 1885.

McClellan appears on paper money:

10c 1863 Searsport Bank, Frankfort, Maine

$1 1862 Chicopee Bank, Springfield, Mass

$2 1861 Merchants Bank, Trenton, N. J.

$20 1862 Rutland County Bank, Vermont

He appears with Robert E. Lee on the obverse of the Battle of Antietam commemorative half dollar.

McClellan appears on a 39 mm mint medal (Julian PE-19) with dies by George Lovett. They were struck at the request of J. M. P. Price of Philadelphia in 1862.

bio: ApCAB; DAB; Drake; EAB; NCAB 4; TCBDA; WAB; WWWA-H; NUM 75 Sep 1962 p 1173-1174