American Civil War Medal of Honor Recipient, US Congressman, US Diplomat. He was undoubtedly one of the most controversial figures to emerge from the American Civil War era. After studying law, he was admitted to the bar in 1846 and elected to the New York State Congress in 1847. In 1853, he went to England to serve as secretary to the United States legation before becoming a candidate for United States Congress. As a Democrat, he was elected to represent New York's 3rd Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives, serving from 1857 to 1861. While in Congress, he shot and killed Philip Barton Key, for having an affair with his young wife, Teresa DaPonte Bagioli Sickles. Key was the son of Francis Scott Key, who wrote the lyrics of the Star-Spangled Banner," the American National Anthem. In a sensational trial, he was the first person in American Judicial history to plead temporary insanity, and he was acquitted for that reason. His lawyer was future Secretary of War Edwin Stanton. When the American Civil War erupted, he raised a brigade of New York Troops, which became known as the "Excelsior Brigade". He was commissioned Brigadier General, United States Volunteers on September 3, 1861. His command fought in the Peninsular Campaign, and the Battles of Second Bull Run and Antietam. He then commanded his division at the Battle of Fredericksburg, being promoted to Major General in November of 1862. In early 1863 he was given command of the Army of the Potomac's III Corps, which he led at the Battle of Chancellorsville. During that battle, units of his Corps detected Stonewall Jackson's famous Flank March, and reported it to AOP commander General Joseph Hooker, who believed it meant the Confederates were retreating. When Jackson's troops crushed the Federal right flank, it was General Sickles' Corps that attacked and ultimately halted the Confederates in bloody fighting. At the Battle of Gettysburg, his III Corps was the anchor of the Union left flank, being stationed around the Round Tops area. Without orders, General Sickles extended his battle line forward to Emmitsburg Road, believing it to be a better position, yet in fact it was a very weak one within General George Meade's defensive plans. Confederate General James Longstreet's Army of Northern Virginia Corps subsequently attacked and crushed the Union salient, causing the III Corps to lose fully half its numbers. During the battle, General Sickles' right lower leg was amputated after being mangled by a twelve-pound cannonball while in his headquarters next to the Trostle Farmhouse Barn. His personal bravery during the battle earned him the Medal of Honor, which his citation reads "Displayed most conspicuous gallantry on the field vigorously contesting the advance of the enemy and continuing to encourage his troops after being himself severely wounded". The Medal was issued on October 30, 1897, more than thirty years after the action. He gave his severed leg to the US Army Medical Corps, and it is displayed today in the Army Medical Museum. Meade was infuriated with Sickles' battle field actions and the two men remained at odds until Meade's death in 1872. Sickles extension of his line without a direct order has caused controversy that still is debated today. After being wounded, he never again held field command, yet remained in the military in noncombative positions. For a time he was Military Governor in the Carolinas. On January 1, 1868, he was retired as a Major General in the Regular Service. He served as a diplomat to Colombia. He was appointed by President Grant to the post of United States Minister to Spain from 1869 to 1873. With newspaper coverage, his term became politically controversial. After becoming a widower in 1867, he was a notorious bachelor in Europe, being seen romantically with royals even after he married Caroline de Creagh on November 27, 1871, in Madrid. After leaving the diplomatic post, he lived in Paris where his son and daughter were born before he returned alone in 1879 to New York. In 1887, his father died and he inherited $5 million. With his first wife, he had a daughter, Laura, who died unmarried in 1891. He never divorced Caroline and in 1908, she came to New York but returned to Spain without a reconciliation. He was again elected to Congress, representing New York's 10th district in the House of Representatives from 1893 to 1895. He was the driving force in the establishment of the Gettysburg National Military Park, and was the Chairman of the New York State Monuments Commission, serving from 1886 to his dismissal for alleged mishandling of $28,000.00 in funds in 1912. The family of Confederate General James Longstreet paid the missing funds to resolved Sickle's legal problems. As one of the last American Civil War surviving officers of the war, his last years were spent in involvement in Veterans issues, and as a "cantankerous old gentleman". At the age of ninety-four, Sickles died of a cerebral hemorrhage, had a funeral with full military honors at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City, and left an estate of only $500 and his Fifth Avenue home. In the Military Park at Gettysburg, and avenue is named for him, the field between Emmitsburg Road and the Trostle Farmhouse is called "Excelsior Field," and a monument marks the spot where he was wounded next to the Trostle House.