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John A. Logan

John A. LoganAKA John Alexander Logan

Born: 8-Feb-1826
Birthplace: Murphysboro, IL
Died: 27-Dec-1886
Location of death: Washington, DC
Cause of death: unspecified
Remains: Buried, US Soldiers' and Airmen's Home National Cemetery, Washington, DC

Gender: Male
Race or Ethnicity: White
Sexual orientation: Straight
Occupation: Military, Politician
Party Affiliation: Republican

Nationality: United States
Executive summary: Union Army General, US Senator

Military service: US Army (1844-48, Mexican War, Lt.); Union Army (1862-65, Maj. Gen.)

American soldier and politician, John A. Logan was born in what is now Murphysboro. At age 14, he studied for three years in Shiloh College, then served in the Mexican War as a lieutenant of volunteers. He studied law in the office of an uncle, graduated from the Law Department of Louisville University in 1851, and entered the practice of law. Logan entered politics as a Douglas Democrat, served twice in the State House of Representatives and was prosecuting attorney of the 3rd Judicial District of Illinois. In 1858 and 1860 he was elected as a Democrat to the US House of Representatives.

Upon commencement of hostilities between the states, Logan fought as an irregular at Bull Run, and then returned to Washington, resigned his seat, and entered the Union Army as colonel of the 31st Illinois Volunteers, which he organized. In Grant's campaigns culminating in the capture of Vicksburg, he rose to the rank of Major General of Volunteers. In November 1863 he succeeded Sherman in command of the XV Army, and after the death of McPherson he was in command of the Army of the Tennessee at the battle of Atlanta.

When the war closed, Logan resumed his political career as a Republican, and was a member of the House of Representatives from 1867 to 1871, and of the Senate from 1871-77 and again from 1879 until his death, which took place at Washington, on the 26th of December 1886. He was always a violent partisan, and was identified with the radical wing of the Republican party. In 1868 he was one of the managers in the impeachment of President Johnson. His war record and his great personal following, especially in the Grand Army of the Republic, contributed to his nomination for Vice President in 1884 on the ticket with James G. Blaine, but he was not elected. His oratory, popular on the platform, was unsuited to the halls of legislation. He was Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic from 1868-71, and in this position successfully urged the observance of Memorial Day, an idea which probably originated with him.

Father: John Logan (physician)
Mother: Elizabeth Jenkins
Wife: Mary Simmerson Cunningham (m. 27-Nov-1855, d. 22-Feb-1923, two sons, one daughter)
Son: John Cunningham Logan (b. 1856, d. 1857)
Daughter: Mary Elizabeth ("Dollie", b. 1858, d. 1940)
Son: John A. Logan II ("Manning Alexander Logan", b. 1865, d. 1899 killed in action)

    High School: Shiloh Academy, Shiloh, IL
    Law School: Louisville University Law School (1851)

    US Senator, Illinois (4-Mar-1879 to 27-Dec-1886, his death)
    US Senator, Illinois (4-Mar-1871 to 3-Mar-1877)
    US Congressman, Illinois at Large (4-Mar-1867 to 3-Mar-1871, as Republican, resigned)
    US Congressman, Illinois 9th (4-Mar-1859 to 2-Apr-1862, as Democrat, resigned)
    Illinois State House of Representatives (1856-57)
    Illinois State Official Prosecuting Attorney, 3rd Judicial District (1853-57)
    Illinois State House of Representatives (1852-53)
    Illinois State Official Clerk, Jackson County Court (1849-50)
    Freemasonry
    Grand Army of the Republic Commander-in-Chief (1868-71)
    Illinois State Bar Association 1852
    Crédit Mobilier Scandal
    Lain in state at the Capitol Rotunda
    Irish Ancestry Paternal

Author of books:
The Great Conspiracy: Its Origin and History (1886)
The Volunteer Soldier of America (1887)


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