5 Quotes & Sayings By Lew Wallace

Wallace was born in New York City on 2 January 1827. He received his early education at private schools in New York, and then attended Yale College, graduating in 1847. After graduation he commenced the study of law at Yale Law School, but left after three months to accept a position as editor of a weekly newspaper in New Haven, Connecticut.

He resigned this position after three months to accept an offer from the editors of the "Hartford Courant" to begin practice in Hartford, Connecticut. Shortly after he began practicing law, he met Ulysses S. Grant who recommended him to President James A.

Garfield for appointment as Attorney General of the District of Columbia under Grant's administration. Wallace then returned to private practice in Hartford until 1855 when he again joined the government service with election to a seat on the bench in 1857. He served on three federal benches before being named Secretary of War in July 1862 by President Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War.

Wallace was active in military affairs during this period including command of troops at Fortress Monroe during General Lee's invasion of Virginia and later at City Point near Alexandria where Grant had established his headquarters during Lee's retreat northward following Grant's victory at Gettysburg. In 1870 he was elected governor of Arizona Territory which became a state when it was admitted to the Union on February 14, 1912. He resigned his office upon becoming president of what became Southern Illinois Normal University on January 1, 1891; he died two years later on February 2, 1905 while visiting London, England.