Generals who became President
Yesterday's post about John Adams made me wonder whether there were more presidents who had been generals, or more who were lawyers. Today, let's start with the generals.
Twelve presidents had been generals before being elected president:
1. George Washington, Revolutionary War
2. Andrew Jackson, War of 1812
3. William Henry Harrison, War of 1812
4. Zachary Taylor, Mexican War
5. Franklin Pierce, Mexican War
6. Andrew Johnson, Civil War
7. Ulysses Grant, Civil War
8. Rutherford Hayes, Civil War
9. James Garfield, Civil War
10. Chester Allan Arthur, Civil War
11. Benjamin Harrison, Civil War
12. Dwight David Eisenhower, World War II
I was surprised to learn that Johnson had been a general, because I think of him as a tailor. But in 1862 Abraham Lincoln appointed Johnson the military governor of Tennessee with the rank of Brigadier General.
Similarly for Chester Alan Arthur, I wondered when he had been a general. During the Civil War, on April 4, 1862, Arthur was appointed by Gov. Edwin D. Morgan Inspector-General of the State Militia, and on July 22 transferred to the office of Quartermaster-General of the State Militia, remaining in this office until the end of the year. Both offices, although political appointments, carried the rank of brigadier general.
Rutherford Hayes appears to have been the most unlucky as a general, though his horses had even worse luck. Brevetted (i.e. temporarily promoted on the field) to the rank of Brigadier General in December 1862, Hayes commanded the First Brigade of the Kanawha Division of the Army of West Virginia and turned back several raids. In 1864, Hayes showed gallantry in spearheading a frontal assault and temporarily taking command from George Crook at the Battle of Cloyd's Mountain and continued with Crook on to Charleston. Hayes continued commanding his Brigade during the Valley Campaigns of 1864, participating in such major battles as the Battle of Opequon, the Battle of Fisher's Hill, and the Battle of Cedar Creek. At the end of the Shenandoah campaign, Hayes was fully promoted to Brigadier General in October 1864 and brevetted Major General. Hayes had been wounded a total of four times and had four horses shot from under him during his campaigning.
Twelve presidents had been generals before being elected president:
1. George Washington, Revolutionary War
2. Andrew Jackson, War of 1812
3. William Henry Harrison, War of 1812
4. Zachary Taylor, Mexican War
5. Franklin Pierce, Mexican War
6. Andrew Johnson, Civil War
7. Ulysses Grant, Civil War
8. Rutherford Hayes, Civil War
9. James Garfield, Civil War
10. Chester Allan Arthur, Civil War
11. Benjamin Harrison, Civil War
12. Dwight David Eisenhower, World War II
I was surprised to learn that Johnson had been a general, because I think of him as a tailor. But in 1862 Abraham Lincoln appointed Johnson the military governor of Tennessee with the rank of Brigadier General.
Similarly for Chester Alan Arthur, I wondered when he had been a general. During the Civil War, on April 4, 1862, Arthur was appointed by Gov. Edwin D. Morgan Inspector-General of the State Militia, and on July 22 transferred to the office of Quartermaster-General of the State Militia, remaining in this office until the end of the year. Both offices, although political appointments, carried the rank of brigadier general.
Rutherford Hayes appears to have been the most unlucky as a general, though his horses had even worse luck. Brevetted (i.e. temporarily promoted on the field) to the rank of Brigadier General in December 1862, Hayes commanded the First Brigade of the Kanawha Division of the Army of West Virginia and turned back several raids. In 1864, Hayes showed gallantry in spearheading a frontal assault and temporarily taking command from George Crook at the Battle of Cloyd's Mountain and continued with Crook on to Charleston. Hayes continued commanding his Brigade during the Valley Campaigns of 1864, participating in such major battles as the Battle of Opequon, the Battle of Fisher's Hill, and the Battle of Cedar Creek. At the end of the Shenandoah campaign, Hayes was fully promoted to Brigadier General in October 1864 and brevetted Major General. Hayes had been wounded a total of four times and had four horses shot from under him during his campaigning.