Alfred Mordecai

Major Alfred Mordecai
Major Alfred Mordecai in 1880
Born	(1804-01-03)January 3, 1804 Warrenton, North Carolina, U.S.
Died	October 23, 1887(1887-10-23) (aged 83) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Buried	Federal Street Burial Ground[1]
Service / branch	United States Army
Years of service	1823–1861
Rank	Major

Alfred Mordecai (January 3, 1804 – October 23, 1887) was an American army officer. He contributed to United States' military development through his research and writing, particularly in the area of artillery. He was instrumental in the United States' adoption of the M1857 12-pounder Napoleon. Mordecai served in a number of diplomatic missions for his country, but resigned at the start of the Civil War rather than fight for either side. He was one the first Jewish Americans to choose the army as a career.