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Meet Lew Wallace: Timeline of an American Hero
Soldier | Governor | Author | Ambassador | His Words | Genealogy
"A peculiarity of the most democratic people in the world is their hunger for heroes."
1827 - Wallace born in Brookville, IN on April 10.
1846 - Wallace serves in Mexican-American War.
1849 - Wallace passes the bar exam and sets up law practice in Covington, Indiana.
1852 - Wallace marries Susan Elston, daughter of Isaac Elston.
1853 - The Wallaces’ only child, Henry Lane Wallace, born and family moves to Crawfordsville.
1856 - Wallace elected to Indiana State Senate. He also organizes the Montgomery Guards, a militia unit that gains him statewide notoriety.
1861 - At the outbreak of American Civil War, Wallace serves as Adjutant General of Indiana, before becoming Colonel of the 11th Indiana Volunteer Infantry.
1862 - Wallace promoted to Major General and commands Union military divisions in Tennessee battles of Fort Donelson and Shiloh. Organizes successful defense of Cincinnati, Ohio.
1864 - Wallace saves Washington, DC from Confederate assault at the battle of Monocacy.
1865 - Wallace serves as military judge at Abraham Lincoln assassination trial and at court- martial of Henry Wirz, commandant of Andersonville prison.
1873 - Wallace’s first novel, The Fair God, published.
1878 - Wallace appointed by President Hayes to serve as Governor of the New Mexico Territory.
1880 - Wallace’s second novel, Ben-Hur, published.
1881 - Wallace appointed by President Garfield to serve as United States Minister to Turkey.
1893 - Wallace’s third novel, The Prince of India, published.
1895 - Construction of Wallace’s study begins in Crawfordsville, Indiana.
1899 - Ben-Hur adapted into a stage play and opens at the Broadway Theater in New York City.
1905 - Wallace dies on February 15 in Crawfordsville.
1906 - Wallace’s self-titled autobiography published.
1907 - Susan Wallace dies on October 1 in Crawfordsville.
1910 A marble statue of Wallace placed in Statuary Hall at the United States Capitol Building,Washington, DC.
1925 - First full length motion picture of Ben-Hur released, starring Ramon Navarro.
1959 - Re-make of Ben-Hur, starring Charlton Heston, breaks box office records and garners a record eleven Academy awards.
"May a man tell what he can do until he tries? That, I take it, is the soul of the Americanism which makes us a peculiar people." |
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