Winfield Scott Hancock | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Hancock, c. 1860s | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 14, 1824 Montgomeryville, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | February 9, 1886 (aged 61) New York City, U.S. |
| Resting place | Montgomery Cemetery (West Norriton Township, Pennsylvania, U.S.) |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Almira Russell (m. 1850) |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | United States Military Academy (BS) |
| Signature |  |
| Nickname | Hancock the Superb |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | U.S. Army (Union Army) |
| Years of service | 1844–1886 |
| Rank |  Major General |
| Commands | II Corps |
| Battles/wars |
|
Winfield Scott Hancock (February 14, 1824 – February 9, 1886) was a United States Army officer and the Democratic nominee for President of the United States in 1880. He served with distinction in the Army for four decades, including service in the Mexican–American War and as a Union general in the American Civil War. Known to his Army as "Hancock the Superb," he was noted in particular for his personal leadership at the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863. His military service continued after the Civil War, as Hancock participated in the military Reconstruction of the South and the U.S.'s western expansion and war with the Native Americans at the Western frontier. This concluded with the Medicine Lodge Treaty. From 1881 to 1885 he was president of the Aztec Club of 1847 for veteran officers of the Mexican-American War.
Hancock's reputation as a war hero at Gettysburg, combined with his status as a Unionist and supporter of states' rights, made him a potential presidential candidate. When the Democrats nominated him for president in 1880, he ran a strong campaign, but was narrowly defeated by Republican James A. Garfield. Hancock's last public service involved the oversight of President Ulysses S. Grant's funeral procession in 1885.