The New Student's Reference Work/Alger, Russell Alexander

Alger (ăl' jēr), Russell Alexander, American general, politician and ex-secretary of war in President McKinley's administration, was born in Lafayette, Ohio, February 27, 1836, and was educated at Richfield Academy, Ohio, studied law, and was called to the bar. Removing to Michigan, he entered the army as captain in the Second Michigan Cavalry (1861), and two years later became colonel of the Fifth Michigan Cavalry, and subsequently reached the rank of brevet major-general of volunteers. He was severely wounded at the battle of Boonsboro, Md., July 8, 1863, and performed meritorious service at Gettysburg and in the Shenandoah valley. After the war he became interested in the lumber business in Detroit, and owner of extensive timber tracts. In 1885–6 , he was governor of Michigan, and on March 5, 1897, was appointed United States secretary of war. In 1901 he was elected to the United States senate, where he served until his death, January 24, 1907.