Joseph Holt

Joseph Holt
Judge Advocate General of the United States Army
In office
September 3, 1862 – December 1, 1875
PresidentAbraham Lincoln
Andrew Johnson
Ulysses S. Grant
Preceded byJohn F. Lee
Succeeded byWilliam McKee Dunn
25th United States Secretary of War
In office
January 18, 1861 – March 5, 1861
PresidentJames Buchanan
Preceded byJohn B. Floyd
Succeeded bySimon Cameron
18th United States Postmaster General
In office
March 9, 1859 – December 31, 1860
PresidentJames Buchanan
Preceded byAaron V. Brown
Succeeded byHoratio King
Personal details
Born(1807-01-06)January 6, 1807
Breckinridge County, Kentucky, U.S.
DiedAugust 1, 1894(1894-08-01) (aged 87)
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Mary Harrison
Margaret Wickliffe
EducationCentre College
Signature
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army (Union Army)
Years of service1862-1875
RankBrigadier general
CommandsJudge Advocate General's Corps
Battles/warsAmerican Civil War

Joseph Holt (January 6, 1807 – August 1, 1894) was an American lawyer, soldier, and politician. As a leading member of the Buchanan administration, he succeeded in convincing Buchanan to oppose the secession of the South. He returned to Kentucky and successfully battled the secessionist element thereby helping to keep Kentucky in the Union. President Abraham Lincoln appointed him the Judge Advocate General of the United States Army. He served as Lincoln's chief arbiter and enforcer of military law, and supporter of emancipation. His most famous roles came in the Lincoln assassination trials.[1]

  1. ^ Elizabeth D. Leonard, Lincoln's Forgotten Ally: Judge Advocate General Joseph Holt of Kentucky (2011).