Civil War Union Brevet Brigadier General. Born in Ohio, of Quaker ancestry, he pursued a career as a carpenter, millwright, and teacher before moving his family to Iowa in 1852. He was a farmer in Cedar county, Iowa, until he was elected to the Iowa House of Representatives in 1856. When President Lincoln called for 300,000 volunteers to defend the Union in July of 1862, he responded and was commissioned a major in the 24th Iowa Volunteer Infantry. The 24th Iowa was called the "Iowa Temperance Regiment" because it was composed of men of temperance principles and habits. Many of its members were Methodists or Quakers. After training at Muscatine, Iowa, the regiment was sent to Helena, Arkansas where it remained from September of 1862 until the spring of 1863, except for three or four short expeditions into Tennessee and Arkansas. In the spring of 1863, it was attached to the 13th Corps and saw action during the Vicksburg Campaign, especally at the battles of Port Gibson and Champion Hills. During the Battle of Champion Hills, Major Wright was severely wounded in the abdomen; but he was able to capture a rebel prisoner and made him carry him off the field of battle. Following the seige and victory at Vicksburg in July of 1863, he and the 24th Iowa participated in General Banks' Red River Campaign. At the Battle of Mansfield, he commanded the regiment and was able to extricate his regiment from a difficult position without incurring severe casualties. In July of 1864, he and the 24th were sent east to join the 19th Corps as part of General Sheridan's Shenandoah Campaign. At the Battle of Winchester, he remained on the battlefield after he had a horse shot from under him. He also participated in the battles of Fishers Hill and Cedar Creek. He was instrumental in halting the disorganized retreat from the Cedar Creek battlefield until the arrival of General Sheridan, who inspired confidence in his army and was able to turn the tide and win a decisive victory. Wright was wounded in the arm during the battle, but remained on the field. He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel a few days after the battle. The 24th Iowa remained in Virginia until January of 1865 when it was sent to Savannah, Georgia. On March 13, 1865, Wright was brevetted brigadier general "for meritorious services." He was mustered out of service at Savannah on July 17, 1865. After the war, he was elected to the Iowa House of Representatives and was chosen as Speaker of that body. In 1866, he was elected Secretary of State of Iowa and was twice re-elected, serving six years. In 1873, he was chosen secretary of the Board of Capitol Commissioners and was assistant superintendent of the construction of the new state house. When the new state capitol was completed in 1884, he was appointed custodian of the new building. In 1895, he was appointed a member of the board of public works of the city of Des Moines, which position he held until his death.