Dr. Julius Augustus Skilton
Julius Augustus Skilton was born on June 29, 1833 in Troy, NY. Growing up, Julius studied medicine with private teachers and attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute from 1847-1849, graduating with a Bachelors of Natural Science. He went on to get an A.M. from Wesleyan University and a M.D. from Albany Medical College. He married Harriett Ingersoll in 1856. He practiced medicine in Troy until the outbreak of the Civil War when he enlisted as an assistant surgeon in the Union Army.
He distinguished himself as a surgeon and participated in many campaigns. He rose in the ranks and served as Surgeon in Chief of Cavalry of the Army’s Department of the Gulf in New Orleans.
Following the Civil War, Julius traveled on assignment for the New York “Herald” to Mexico. He is reported to have fled Mexico as he was sympathetic to the Juarez cause. In 1867 he returned to Mexico as Medical Officer and part of the escort of the Juarez family. Benito Juarez had defeated the forces of Maximilian I of Mexico. Maximilian a member of the Hapsburg family had been installed as Emperor of Mexico at the behest of Napoleon Bonaparte, but lost support of France. He was captured and executed in Querétaro in 1867.
Julius Skilton is credited with helping convince the Juarez government to exile various Juarez supporters rather than executing them. He was also asked by the Mexican government to exhume and examine the body of Maximilian before it was delivered to the Austrian Navy for its return to Austria. Because of his diplomatic involvement, in 1869 Julius was appointed US Consul in Mexico City by President Grant. From 1872-1878 he was the US Consul General in Mexico. Papers and correspondence of Julius Skilton are part of the Rare and Manuscript Collections, Carl A. Kroch Library, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York and the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Albany, New York.