Civil War Union Major General, California Governor. He graduated from the US Military Academy in 1846 and served in the Mexican War. He later served on the frontier and was appointed commander of the San Francisco Presidio. At the start of the Civil War, he was a Major in the 1st US Cavalry and was appointed Brigadier General in August, 1861. He commanded a cavalry division at Yorktown, Williamsburg, Richmond and led the III Corps at Fredericksburg. In November 1862, he was promoted Major General and fought in the Chancellorsville campaign. He was appointed Chief of the Cavalry Bureau in Washington, in 1863 and commanded the XXIII Corps in April, 1864. He was in the North Carolina and Virginia raids in March, 1865 and was cavalry support for General Sherman's Carolinas campaign. After the war, he remained in the regular army and was the Drum Barracks commander until he retired in August, 1871. He moved to California, became a rancher and was a state railroad commissioner, 1876 to 1878. In 1882, he was elected 15th Governor of California as a Democrat, serving until 1887.

Civil War Union Major General, California Governor. He graduated from the US Military Academy in 1846 and served in the Mexican War. He later served on the frontier and was appointed commander of the San Francisco Presidio. At the start of the Civil War, he was a Major in the 1st US Cavalry and was appointed Brigadier General in August, 1861. He commanded a cavalry division at Yorktown, Williamsburg, Richmond and led the III Corps at Fredericksburg. In November 1862, he was promoted Major General and fought in the Chancellorsville campaign. He was appointed Chief of the Cavalry Bureau in Washington, in 1863 and commanded the XXIII Corps in April, 1864. He was in the North Carolina and Virginia raids in March, 1865 and was cavalry support for General Sherman's Carolinas campaign. After the war, he remained in the regular army and was the Drum Barracks commander until he retired in August, 1871. He moved to California, became a rancher and was a state railroad commissioner, 1876 to 1878. In 1882, he was elected 15th Governor of California as a Democrat, serving until 1887.

Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith