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Jan - I hope you have more information about Sumner - I pursued some details 
on his life several years ago, and will check in the next week or so to see 
what I can find. I believe his committment was for an extended period of 
time. I seem to remember that his wife petitioned the US Congress (?) and was 
finally able to receive some money in recognition for his services to his 
country. I was surprised that I was able to receive some information from his 
college (Harvard, I believe) about him, and still have the Xeroxed copies of 
a sheet or two on him, particularly relating to his "rustication" (being sent 
to the country, I believe, maybe others can enlarge upon this punishment) for 
some acts of mischief - I believe it was for breaking some windows of a 
townsperson or business. (could be wrong here).

Years ago, I found an an interesting article on the net saying that he was 
poorly recognized in the US, and that there was a statue or bust of him in 
Hamburg Germany. (Naval College there?)

Also, his death is sometimes reported nearly 20 or 30 years early, not 
acknowledging his institutionalization.

I think also that he was the second child in his family to be named Thomas 
Hubbard Sumner, having an older brother who died in infancy, and he was given 
the same name.

Sorry for the disjointed comments - Sumner has long fascinated me.

Marvin Sebourn
osugeography@aol.com

   

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