Why Fitz?

Fitz John Porter was from one of the most prominent U.S. Navy families of the 19th century. Born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, he attended Phillips Exeter and West Point. Porter served his country as a successful military engineer, soldier, and officer.

Nevertheless, as an Army Field General, he became the victim of a great political conflagration during the maelstrom of the American Civil War. He was scapegoated for a terrible union defeat at Manassas, Virginia, in August 1862. He was unfairly court-martialed and removed from the U.S. Army. His offense was essentially that he was a democrat at a time when the republicans ruled the U.S. Government, and someone had to take the blame.

For the next 24 years, Fitz John Porter fought to right this wrong. Ultimately, after an act of Congress and approval by the sitting president, he was restored to the army, and the legal injustice was fixed.

In this time of great political divisiveness and legal controversy, what better way to seek non-adversarial conflict resolution than follow the inspiration of our own Fitz John Porter?

The first of hopefully many projects to encourage non-judicial conflict resolution is the “Fitz John Porter Community Ombuds.” The concept of an esteemed person serving as a mediator goes back to ancient China. The term “Ombudsman” was created in early 19th century Sweden.

Ombuds are employed worldwide as an effective and recognized means to resolve conflict. The State of New Hampshire has recently adopted two ombudsman positions.

“Ombuds” is the most modern non-gender-based term for the historic “Ombudsman.”