Kearny, Philip (1814–1862), a United States army officer. A daring cavalry officer, Kearny was called by General Winfield Scott "the bravest man I ever knew and a perfect soldier.'' Kearny, New Jersey, is named for him and there are statues of him in the National Cemetery at Arlington, Virginia (his burial place), and in the Capitol in Washington. He was the nephew of General Stephen W. Kearny.
Kearny was born in New York City. He graduated from Columbia College in 1833 and joined the army in 1837. He lost his left arm in the Mexican War. In 1851 Kearny resigned from the army and went to Europe, where he fought for the French in Italy and was awarded the Legion of Honor. Returning in 1861, he became a brigadier general in the Union Army. Kearny was killed in Virginia while on a scouting mission.
