Origins & Early Life

William Tecumseh Sherman ( tih-KUM-sə; February 8, 1820 – February 14, 1891) was an American businessman, author, and United States Army general in the Union army during the American Civil War (1861–1865). As a general he earned recognition for his command of military strategy but criticism for the harshness of his scorched-earth policies, which he implemented in his military campaign against the Confederate States. Born in Lancaster, Ohio, into a politically prominent family, Sherman graduated in 1840 from the United States Military Academy in West Point. In 1853, he interrupted his military career to pursue private business ventures, without much success.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

In 1859, he became superintendent of the Louisiana State Seminary of Learning & Military Academy, now Louisiana State University, but resigned when Louisiana seceded from the Union. Sherman commanded a brigade of volunteers at the First Battle of Bull Run in 1861, and then was transferred to the western theater. He was stationed in Kentucky, where his pessimism about the outlook of the war led to a breakdown that required him to be briefly put on leave. He recovered and forged a close partnership with General Ulysses S. Grant.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Sherman...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Benjamin Henry Latrobe — Contemporary (Died in 1820) (1820): Pioneering American Neoclassical Architect, known for the U.S. Capitol.
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• Friedrich Engels — Contemporary (Born in 1820) (1820): German philosopher and revolutionary socialist, co-author of The Communist Manifesto.
• Antonio Gramsci — Contemporary (Born in 1891) (1891): Italian Marxist philosopher known for his theory of cultural hegemony.
• Arthur Rimbaud — Contemporary (Died in 1891) (1891): Transgressive French poet whose work profoundly influenced modern literature and surrealism.
• B. R. Ambedkar — Contemporary (Born in 1891) (1891): Pioneering jurist, economist, and social reformer who shaped modern India.
• Baldassare Castiglione — Shared historical date (02-08 · Died) (1529): Influential Renaissance author and courtier, known for 'The Book of the Courtier'.
• Bernard Bosanquet (philosopher) — Shared historical date (02-08 · Died) (1923): Influential English philosopher and political theorist of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
• Alan Parker — Shared historical date (02-14 · Born) (1944): Acclaimed English filmmaker known for genre versatility and numerous BAFTA and Golden Globe wins.
• Babur — Shared historical date (02-14 · Born) (1483): Founder of the Mughal Empire in South Asia, a descendant of Timur and Genghis Khan.
• 1820 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1820
• February 8 (02-08) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on February 8
• 1891 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1891
• February 14 (02-14) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on February 14