US History's Most Important Military Leaders

George Washington became the first President of the United States. He commanded the Continental Army. Washington was a Founding Father. He led the convention that drafted the United States Constitution, which replaced the Articles of Confederation and is the nation's supreme law. Electors unanimously elected Washington President in both the 1788–1789 and 1792 elections.

George Smith Patton Jr. (November 11, 1885 – December 21, 1945) commanded the U.S. Seventh Army in the Mediterranean theater during World War II. Patton commanded the U.S. Third Army in France and Germany after D-Day, the Allied invasion of Normandy in June 1944. Patton was born in 1885 to a family with a large military history in both the United States and Confederate States armies. Patton attended the Virginia Military Institute and the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He studied fencing and designed the M1913 Cavalry Saber, known as the th.

Ulysses S. Grant, born Hiram Ulysses Grant on April 27, 1822, died on July 23, 1885. Grant served as an American soldier, politician, and international statesman. He became the 18th president of the United States from 1869 to 1877. During the American Civil War, General Grant led the Union Army to victory against the Confederacy with President Abraham Lincoln. During the Reconstruction Era, President Grant guided the Republicans in removing Confederate nationalism, racism, and slavery. Grant showed skill with horses from early childhood in Ohio.

Dwight D. Eisenhower, the 34th President of the United States, achieved great things. Born in Denison, Texas on October 14, 1890, his humble start built his future success. After graduating from West Point in 1915, Eisenhower had a military career lasting over thirty years. He became Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces during World War II. Eisenhower showed military skill as he led the successful D-Day invasion of Normandy in 1944.

Robert Edward Lee was an American soldier. He commanded the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia in the Civil War from 1862 until his surrender in 1865. Lee was the son of Revolutionary War officer Henry "Light Horse Harry" Lee III and a top graduate of the U.S. Military Academy. Robert E. Lee served as an exceptional officer and combat engineer in the U.S. Army for 32 years. He served across the United States, distinguished himself in the Mexican–American War, and acted as Superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy. He married Mary C

Chester William Nimitz, Sr. (February 24, 1885 – February 20, 1966) commanded the United States Navy as a fleet admiral. Nimitz played a major role in World War II naval history. He served as Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet and Commander in Chief, Pacific Ocean Areas. He commanded Allied air, land, and sea forces during World War II. Nimitz led the US Navy authority on submarines. He qualified in submarines early on. He later managed the change of submarine propulsion from gasoline to diesel. Nimitz also helped get approval to build the world's first nuclear-powered submarine.

William Tecumseh Sherman (February 8, 1820 – February 14, 1891) was an American soldier, businessman, educator, and author. Sherman served as a general in the Union Army during the Civil War (1861–65). He earned recognition for his military strategy command. Critics noted the harshness of the scorched earth policies he used in total war against the Confederate States. Sherman came from a prominent political family. He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1840 and was stationed in California. He married Ellen Ewing Sh

George Catlett Marshall Jr. (December 31, 1880 – October 16, 1959) was an American soldier and statesman. He moved up the United States Army to become Chief of Staff for presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman. Then, he served as Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense under Truman. Winston Churchill called Marshall the "organizer of victory" for leading the Allied win in World War II. Marshall declined a final field leadership job that went to his protégé, later U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower. After the war, as Secretary of State, Marsha

Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson (January 21, 1824 – May 10, 1863) served as a Confederate general (1861–1863) in the American Civil War. Jackson became one of the best-known Confederate commanders after General Robert E. Lee. Jackson played a key role in nearly all military actions in the Eastern Theater of the war until his death. He helped win many major battles. Jackson was born in what was then part of Virginia. He received an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point. He served in the U.S. Army during the Mexican–American War of 1846–1848

General of the Armies John Joseph "Black Jack" Pershing (September 13, 1860 – July 15, 1948) was a senior United States Army officer. Pershing's most famous post was commanding the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) on the Western Front in World War I (1917–18). Pershing rejected British and French demands to merge American forces with their armies. He insisted the AEF operate as a single unit under his command. Some American divisions fought under British command. Pershing also allowed all-black units to join the French army.

General of the Army Douglas MacArthur, born January 26, 1880, died April 5, 1964. He served as an American five-star general and Field Marshal of the Philippine Army. MacArthur became Chief of Staff of the United States Army during the 1930s. He played a major role in the Pacific theater during World War II. He earned the Medal of Honor for his service in the Philippines Campaign. This award made him and his father, Arthur MacArthur Jr., the first father and son to receive it. MacArthur was one of only five to reach the rank of General of the Army in the US Army. He was the only one conferred the rank of Field Marshal.

General of the Army Omar Nelson Bradley, born February 12, 1893, died April 8, 1981, served in the United States Army after World War II. Bradley became the first Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He directed the U.S. military's policy-making during the Korean War. Bradley was born in Randolph County, Missouri. He worked as a boilermaker before joining the United States Military Academy at West Point. Bradley graduated from the academy in 1915 with Dwight D. Eisenhower, part of "the class the stars fell on." During World War I, Bradley guarded copper mines in Montana.

Washington sent him to replace Gates in the South. He ordered him to drive Cornwallis out of South Carolina. He earned the nickname Fighting Quaker. Washington served him as Quartermaster.

John Paul Jones is the best-known naval leader for the U.S. in the Revolutionary War.

Andrew Jackson led U.S. troops to victory over the British in the Battle of New Orleans during the War of 1812.

Fleet Admiral William Frederick Halsey Jr., KBE, lived October 30, 1882, to August 16, 1959. Known as Bill Halsey or "Bull" Halsey, he was an American admiral in the United States Navy during World War II. Halsey became one of four people to achieve the rank of fleet admiral of the United States Navy; the others were Ernest King, William Leahy, and Chester W. Nimitz. Born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, Halsey graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1904. He served in the Great White Fleet and commanded the destroyer USS Shaw during World War I. Halsey took command of the aircraft carrier USS Sara.

Herbert Norman Schwarzkopf Jr. (August 22, 1934 – December 27, 2012) was a United States Army General. As commander of United States Central Command, he led all coalition forces in the Gulf War. Schwarzkopf grew up in Trenton, New Jersey, and later in Iran. The U.S. Military Academy at West Point accepted him. He became a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army in 1956. After training, Schwarzkopf stopped teaching at the academy. He served in the Vietnam War first as an adviser to the S

Lewis Burwell "Chesty" Puller (June 26, 1898 – October 11, 1971) served as a United States Marine Corps officer. He fought guerrillas in Haiti and Nicaragua during the Banana Wars early in his career. Puller later served as a senior officer in World War II and the Korean War. By 1955, Puller held the rank of lieutenant general. Puller holds the title of the most decorated Marine in American history. He is one of two U.S. servicemen awarded five Navy Crosses and one Army Distinguished Service Cross. Puller's six crosses follow the eight of others.

Raymond Ames Spruance (July 3, 1886 – December 13, 1969) was a United States Navy admiral during World War II. Spruance commanded U.S. naval forces in two major Pacific Theatre battles: the Battle of Midway and the Battle of the Philippine Sea. At Midway, Spruance scored the first major U.S. victory over Japan; historians view Midway as the turning point of the Pacific War. Official Navy historian Samuel Eliot Morison called Spruance's performance "superb" and said he "emerged from this battle one of the greatest ad".

Winfield Scott (June 13, 1786 – May 29, 1866) was an American military commander and political candidate. He served as a general in the United States Army from 1814 to 1861. Scott fought in the War of 1812, the Mexican–American War, the early American Civil War, and conflicts with Native Americans. The Whig Party nominated Scott for president in 1852, but Democrat Franklin Pierce won the election. Scott earned the nickname Old Fuss and Feathers for demanding strict military etiquette. He became the Grand Old Man of the Army due to his long service.

Friedrich Wilhelm August Heinrich Ferdinand Steuben (born Friedrich Wilhelm Ludolf Gerhard Augustin von Steuben; September 17, 1730 – November 28, 1794), also called Baron von Steuben (German: [fɔn ˈʃtɔʏbn̩]), became a Prussian and then an American military officer. Steuben served as Inspector General and Major General of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. Steuben taught the Continental Army the basics of military drills, tactics, and discipline. He wrote Regulations for the Order and Discipline of the Troops of

He led American troops, the Roughriders, up San Juan Hill for a decisive victory. The Congressional Medal of Honor awarded him in 2001 for his actions.

James Longstreet (January 8, 1821 – January 2, 1904) was a top Confederate general during the Civil War. General Robert E. Lee called him his "Old War Horse." Longstreet served under Lee as a corps commander in battles of the Army of Northern Virginia's Eastern Theater. He also fought briefly with Braxton Bragg in the Army of Tennessee in the Western Theater. Longstreet graduated from West Point before serving in the Mexican–American War. He sustained a thigh wound at the Battle of Chap.

Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette (French: [maʁki də la fajɛt]; 6 September 1757 – 20 May 1834), became known in the U.S. as Lafayette. This French aristocrat and military officer fought in the American Revolutionary War. Lafayette commanded American troops in battles, including the Siege of Yorktown. After returning to France, he played a role in the French Revolution of 1789 and the July Revolution of 1830. Lafayette came from a wealthy land-owning family in Chavaniac, Auvergne province, south central France.

Henry Harley "Hap" Arnold (June 25, 1886 – January 15, 1950) was an American general officer, holding the ranks of General of the Army and General of the Air Force. Arnold pioneered aviation. He served as Chief of the Air Corps (1938–1941) and Commanding General of the U.S. Army Air Forces. Arnold was the only U.S. Air Force general to hold five-star rank and the only officer to hold five-star rank in two different U.S. military services. Arnold also founded Project RAND, which grew into the RAND Corporation, a major global policy think tank.

Philip Henry Sheridan (March 6, 1831 – August 5, 1888) was a career United States Army officer and a Union general in the American Civil War. Sheridan rose quickly to major general. Ulysses S. Grant moved Sheridan from commanding an infantry division in the Western Theater to leading the Cavalry Corps of the Army of the Potomac in the East. In 1864, Sheridan defeated Confederate forces under General Jubal Early in the Shenandoah Valley and destroyed the Valley's economic structure, which he called "The Burning."

David Glasgow Farragut (also spelled Glascoe; July 5, 1801 – August 14, 1870) was a flag officer in the United States Navy during the American Civil War. Farragut became the first rear admiral, vice admiral, and admiral in the U.S. Navy. The U.S. Navy tradition often paraphrases his order at the Battle of Mobile Bay as "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead." Farragut was born near Knoxville, Tennessee. A naval officer named David Porter fostered Farragut after his mother died. Despite his young age, Farragut served in the War of 1812 under his adoptive father's command.

Curtis Emerson LeMay (November 15, 1906 – October 1, 1990) designed and ran a systematic, though controversial, strategic bombing campaign in the Pacific during World War II. He served as Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force from 1961 to 1965. LeMay joined the United States Army Air Corps while studying civil engineering at Ohio State University. LeMay reached the rank of major before the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. He commanded the 305th Operations Group from October 1942 until September 1943, and the 3rd Air Division in the E.

General Matthew Bunker Ridgway (March 3, 1895 – July 26, 1993) was a senior officer in the United States Army. Ridgway served as Supreme Allied Commander Europe (1952–1953) and the 19th Chief of Staff of the United States Army (1953–1955). Ridgway fought with distinction in World War II. He commanded the 82nd Airborne Division, leading it in action in Sicily, Italy, and Normandy. He then took command of the XVIII Airborne Corps in August 1944. Ridgway held that post until the war's end, commanding the corps in the Battle of the Bulge and Operation Varsity.

Oliver Hazard Perry (August 23, 1785 – August 23, 1819) was an American naval commander. Perry was born in South Kingstown, Rhode Island. He was the son of Sarah Wallace Alexander and United States Navy Captain Christopher Raymond Perry. Perry was the older brother of Commodore Matthew C. Perry. Perry served in the West Indies during the Quasi War of 1798–1800 against France. He also served in the Mediterranean during the Barbary Wars of 1801–1815. Perry fought piracy and the slave trade in the Caribbean. Perry earned fame for his heroic role in the War of 1812 during the 1813 Battle of Lake Erie against Brit.

Zachary Taylor (November 24, 1784 – July 9, 1850) became the 12th president of the United States, serving from March 1849 until his death in July 1850. Taylor was a career officer in the United States Army. He rose to the rank of major general and became a national hero due to his victories in the Mexican–American War. Taylor won the election to the White House despite his unclear political views. Taylor's main goal as president was preserving the Union. He died sixteen months into his term, before making any headway on slavery, which had been escalating tensions.

Winfield Scott Hancock (February 14, 1824 – February 9, 1886) was a United States Army officer and the Democratic nominee for President in 1880. Hancock served with distinction in the Army for four decades. His service included the Mexican–American War and duty as a Union general in the American Civil War. Army colleagues called him "Hancock the Superb." Hancock earned recognition for his personal leadership at the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863. Hancock continued his military service after the Civil War, participating in the military Reconstruction of the South and the Army's

James Ewell Brown, "Jeb" Stuart (February 6, 1833 – May 12, 1864), was a Virginia United States Army officer. He became a Confederate States Army general during the American Civil War. Friends called him "Jeb," using the initials of his given names. Stuart commanded cavalry, mastering reconnaissance and using cavalry for offensive actions. He cultivated a cavalier image: a red-lined gray cape, a yellow sash, a hat cocked with an ostrich plume, a red flower in his lapel, and often cologne. His serious work made him a trusted figure.

Joseph Warren Stilwell (March 19, 1883 – October 12, 1946, also known as Shih Ti-wei/約瑟夫·華倫·史迪威 in China) was a United States Army general. Stilwell served in the China Burma India Theater during World War II. His sharp personality earned him the nickname "Vinegar Joe." Lack of resources and distrust of Allies forced Stilwell to improvise constantly. He argued strategy, favoring ground troops over air power, unlike his subordinate, Claire Chennault, who had the ear of Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek. General George Marshall, the Army Chief of Staff, admitted he gave Sti

George Dewey (December 26, 1837 – January 16, 1917) was an Admiral of the Navy. He remains the only person in United States history to hold that rank. Dewey earned fame for his victory at the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish–American War, losing only one crewman on the American side. Born in Montpelier, Vermont, Dewey entered the United States Naval Academy in 1854. He graduated from the academy in 1858. He served as the executive lieutenant of the USS Mississippi at the start of the Civil War. Dewey participated in the capture of New Orleans and the Siege of Port Hudson.

General Alexander Archer Vandegrift, USMC (March 13, 1887 – May 8, 1973), was a United States Marine Corps four-star general. During World War II, Vandegrift commanded the 1st Marine Division to victory in its first ground offensive: the Battle of Guadalcanal. He earned the Medal of Honor for his actions from August 7 to December 9, 1942, in the Solomon Islands campaign. Vandegrift later served as the 18th Commandant of the Marine Corps. He became the first four-star general on active duty in the Marine Corps.

Anthony Wayne (January 1, 1745 – December 15, 1796) was a United States Army officer and statesman. Wayne started a military career at the start of the American Revolutionary War. His military actions and fiery personality quickly earned him promotion to brigadier general and the nickname Mad Anthony. He served as the Senior Officer of the Army and led the Legion of the United States. Wayne was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania. After attending the College of Philadelphia, he worked as a tanner and surveyor. Wayne won election to the Pennsylvania General Assembly and helped raise a Pen

Kazimierz Michał Władysław Wiktor Pułaski, known as Casimir Pulaski, was a Polish nobleman, soldier, and military commander. He died October 11, 1779, after living from March 4 or March 6, 1745. He was called, alongside Michael Kovats de Fabriczy, "the father of the American cavalry." Pułaski was born in Warsaw. Following his father, he focused on politics early. He joined the military and the revolutionary actions in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.

Marine general Oliver P. Smith heroically commanded the 1st Marine Division during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir in the Korean War. The marines and nearby Army units surrounded them. He led the breakout and withdrawal. Historians believe the marine and army units would have been destroyed without his preparation and leadership during the battle.

James Norman Mattis, born September 8, 1950, was an American veteran and former government official. He served as the 26th United States Secretary of Defense from January 2017 through December 2018. Mattis resigned due to policy disagreements with President Donald Trump. A retired United States Marine Corps general, Mattis served in the Persian Gulf War, the War in Afghanistan, and the Iraq War. Mattis joined the Marine Corps through the Naval Reserve Officers' Training Corps after graduating from Central Washington University. A career Marine, Mattis earned respect from his peers for "i

Arleigh Albert Burke (October 19, 1901 – January 1, 1996) was a United States Navy admiral. He distinguished himself in World War II and the Korean War. Burke served as Chief of Naval Operations during the Eisenhower and Kennedy administrations. The USS Arleigh Burke (DDG-51), the lead ship of its class of Aegis-equipped guided missile destroyers, received its name in 1991, during his lifetime.

Creighton Williams Abrams Jr. (September 15, 1914 – September 4, 1974) was a United States Army general. He commanded military operations in the Vietnam War from 1968 to 1972. During this time, United States troop strength in South Vietnam dropped from 543,000 at its peak to 49,000. Abrams became Chief of Staff of the United States Army from 1972 until his death. In 1980, the United States Army named its new main battle tank, the M1 Abrams, after him. The IG Farben building in Germany used his name from 1975 to 1995.

George Gordon Meade was a career United States Army officer and civil engineer. He worked on building coastal lighthouses. Meade fought well in the Second Seminole War and the Mexican-American War. During the Civil War, he served as a Union general. He rose from commanding a brigade to leading the Army of the Potomac. Meade is famous for defeating Confederate General Robert E. Lee at the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863. Meade's Civil War fighting began as a brigade commander in the Peninsula Campaign and the Seven Days Battles, which included the Battle of Glendale.

Ernest Joseph King (November 23, 1878 – June 25, 1956) commanded the United States Fleet (COMINCH) and the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) during World War II. As COMINCH-CNO, he directed the United States Navy's operations, planning, and administration. He joined the Joint Chiefs of Staff. King was the United States Navy's second most senior officer in WWII, behind Fleet Admiral William D. Leahy, who served as Chief of Staff to the Commander in Chief. King was born in Lorain, Ohio. He served in the Spanish–American War while at the United States Naval Academy.

Nathan Bedford Forrest (July 13, 1821 – October 29, 1877) was a Confederate Army general in the American Civil War. Scholars admire Forrest as a military strategist. However, Forrest remains a highly controversial figure in Southern racial history. This includes his alleged role in the massacre of black soldiers at Fort Pillow and his 1867–1869 leadership of the white-supremacist and terrorist organization known as the Ku Klux Klan. Before the war, Forrest built wealth as a cotton plantation owner, horse and cattle trader, real estate broker, and slave trader. In June 1861,

Carl Andrew Spaatz (born Spatz; June 28, 1891 – July 14, 1974), nicknamed "Tooey", was an American World War II general. In 1944, he commanded the Strategic Air Forces in Europe. He successfully pushed for the bombing of the enemy's oil production facilities as a top priority. Spaatz became Chief of Staff of the newly formed United States Air Force in 1947.

Andrzej Tadeusz Bonawentura Kościuszko was a Polish military engineer and leader. He became a national hero in Poland, Belarus, and the United States. Kościuszko fought in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth's fights against Russia and Prussia. He also fought on the American side in the American Revolutionary War. As Supreme Commander of the Polish National Armed Forces, he led the 1794 Kościuszko Uprising. Kościuszko was born in February 1746 in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, in a village now in Belarus. His exact birthdate is unknown. At age 20, he graduated from the Corps of C

Colin Powell, born April 5, 1937, in New York City, became a major American public figure. He gained recognition for his military service, statesmanship, and writing. His Jamaican immigrant parents raised him in the South Bronx. Powell went to City College of New York (CCNY), where he joined ROTC and found his interest in the military. Powell's military career lasted over thirty years. He completed two tours in the Vietnam War. He later held high-ranking jobs.

James Alward Van Fleet (March 19, 1892 – September 23, 1992) served as a U.S. Army officer in World War I, World War II, and the Korean War. Van Fleet was from New Jersey; he grew up in Florida and graduated from the U.S. Military Academy. He commanded regiments, divisions, and corps during World War II. During the Korean War, Van Fleet commanded U.S. Army and other United Nations forces.

William Henry Harrison (February 9, 1773 – April 4, 1841) was an American military officer and politician. He became the ninth U.S. president in 1841. Harrison died thirty-one days into his term from typhoid, pneumonia, or paratyphoid fever. This made him the first president to die in office. His death started a quick constitutional fight about who should take over the presidency, since the Constitution did not clearly state if Vice President John Tyler should become president or just handle the empty office duties. Tyler claimed a constitutional