David L. Brainard | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Brainard as a major in 1902 | |
| Birth name | David Legge Brainard |
| Born | December 21, 1856 Norway, New York, U.S. |
| Died | March 22, 1946 (aged 89) Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch | United States Army |
| Service years | 1876–1919 |
| Rank | Brigadier General |
| Service number | 0-13116 |
| Commands | Chief Commissary, Department of the East Chief Commissary, Department of California Chief Commissary, Philippine Division U.S. Military Attaché, Buenos Aires, Argentina U.S. Military Attaché, Lisbon, Portugal |
| Wars | American Indian Wars Spanish–American War Philippine–American War World War I |
| Awards | Purple Heart Military Order of Christ (Grand Officer) (Portugal) Military Order of Aviz (Grand Officer) (Portugal) Legion of Honor (Officer) (France) |
| Alma mater | State Normal School, Cortland, New York |
| Spouse(s) | Anna Chase (m. 1888–1893, div.) Sara Hall Guthrie Neff (m. 1917–1946, his death) |
David Legge Brainard (December 21, 1856 – March 22, 1946) was a career officer in the United States Army. He enlisted in 1876, received his officer's commission in 1886, and served until 1919. Brainard attained the rank of brigadier general and served during World War I as U.S. military attaché in Lisbon, Portugal.
A native of Norway, New York, Brainard was raised and educated in Norway and nearby Freetown, and graduated from the State Normal School in Cortland, New York.
In addition to his First World War service, Brainard was a veteran of the American Indian Wars, Spanish–American War, and Philippine–American War. He was also a noted arctic explorer who attained fame as one of only six survivors of the 1881 to 1884 Lady Franklin Bay Expedition. He was the recipient of several civilian awards in recognition of his explorations. He died in Washington, D.C., on March 22, 1946, and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.