A grandson of Major General Joseph Cilley and nephew of Bradbury Cilley, he was born in Nottingham, New Hampshire, and attended Bowdoin College, where he became close friends with future novelist Nathaniel Hawthorne and future President Franklin Pierce.
A grandson of Major General Joseph Cilley and nephew of Bradbury Cilley, he was born in Nottingham, New Hampshire. He attended Bowdoin College, where he became close friends with future novelist Nathaniel Hawthorne and future President Franklin Pierce.