Greatest American Military Leaders

George Washington

(1732-1799)

As the leader of the U.S. Army during the American Revolutionary War, George Washington is widely regarded as the "Father of our Nation". His greatest success came on Christmas Night 1776, when he successfully crossed the Delaware River to push out the British from Trenton, New Jersey. This was a major turning point for the American cause, which later won the war after the Battle of Yorktown in 1781. After the War, Washington went on to become the first President of the United States

George Washington

Andrew Jackson

(1767-1845)

Andrew Jackson's rise to greatness, came at a time when America was being attacked by their old British foe. During the War of 1812, the British attacked and invaded the U.S. from every angle. After they burned Washington D.C. to the ground, it looked like America was done for, but that wasn't the case. The War dragged on until 1814 and ended when Andrew Jackson led his army to take back New Orleans. This crucial loss led to British retreat, and made Jackson a hero. Jackson is credited as the founder of the Democratic Party, and went on to become President. His measures to exterminate Native Americans, while president, makes him a touchy subject in modern discussions.

Andrew Jackson

Ulysses S. Grant

(1822-1885

If it wasn't for General Grant, the Union may not have won the Civil War. Grant made a name for himself in 1863, when he and his men took Vicksburg, Mississippi from Confederate forces. By taking Vicksburg, the Union was then able to control the Mississippi River. Pleased with is successes in the Western theater of the War, President Lincoln elevated Grant to the position of Commanding General of the U.S. Army in 1864. Grant led the Union Army up until Lee's surrender at Appomattox in April 1865. After the Civil War, Grant went on to become the 18th President. Although Grant was a good leader on the battlefield, he is considered one of the worst presidents, due to his severe alcoholism.

Ulysses S. Grant

Robert E. Lee

(1807-1870

Despite being on the losing side of the Civil War, General Lee is still regarded as one of the greatest generals in the history of the world. Lee was able to lead a rag tag army of rebels and nearly beat the Union Army to a pulp. Many scholars agree, that if Lee's army won the Battle of Gettysburg and invaded Pennsylvania, the South could have easily won the war. Lee led the Confederate Army until 1865, where he surrendered at Appomattox Courthouse. After losing the war, Lee gave up his military career and became the headmaster of Washington University in his home state of Virginia (now called Washington and Lee University in his honor).

Robert E. Lee

Stonewall Jackson

(1824-1863

During the early years of the Civil War, General Jackson and General Lee were an impenetrable duo. Stonewall Jackson got his nickname by making his men hold their line, as if they were like a stone wall. Sadly, Jackson's streak of successes came to an end in 1863, when he was fatally injured in a friendly fire incident. Many historians agree that along with Lee's loss in Gettysburg, the death of Stonewall Jackson was a major loss that led to the downfall of the Confederacy.

Stonewall Jackson

Theodore Roosevelt

(1858-1919)

Although he is mostly remembered by many for being President and a famed naturalist, Theodore Roosevelt was also a famous military officer. During the Spanish-American War, Roosevelt was a colonel and the leader of a volunteer cavalry unit nicknamed the Rough Riders. During the 1898 Battle of San Juan Hill in Cuba, Roosevelt led his Rough Riders on a successful charge to take San Juan Hill from entrenched Spanish forces. The battle was a major loss for the Spanish, who later surrendered to Cuban and American forces. With the war now over, Roosevelt returned back to the U.S. as a hero.

Theodore Roosevelt

John J. Pershing

(1860-1948)

General Pershing is best remembered for his role as leader of the U.S. Army during World War 1. With his great military mind, Pershing was able to mobilize the army and end the war after one year of U.S. involvement in the European conflict. He also holds the record for being the only 6 star general in American history. During WW2, Pershing served as a mentor, helping generals like Patton and MacArthur.

John J Pershing

George S. Patton

(1885-1945

One of the many generals who served during WW2, General Patton stands out for being America's first and greatest tank commander. His greatest successes were the North African Campaign and the Battle of the Bulge. Sadly just months after WW2 ended in 1945, Patton was killed in a car wreck.

George S. Patton

Dwight D. Eisenhower

(1890-1969)

Along with Patton, General Eisenhower was another great general who fought in Europe during WW2. As the commanding general in Europe, Eisenhower was the mastermind behind the successful Allied invasion on D-Day. After the war, Eisenhower ran a successful presidential campaign in 1952. While president, Eisenhower worked hard to rebuild Europe and fought to stop the spread of communism at home and abroad.

Dwight D. Eisenhower

Douglas MacArthur

(1880-1964)

Another great general to came out of the Second World War, General MacArthur was the commanding general of the American forces in the Pacific Theater. He is well known for his island hopping campaign, where U.S, British, and Chinese forces landed and took Japanese controlled islands, slowly getting closer to the Japanese mainland. When MacArthur's forces retook the Philippines in 1944, he fulfilled a promise he made a few years prior. Leading up to the fall of the Philippines to Japanese forces in 1942, MacArthur served as the island's U.S. Military Governor. While being evacuated, he famously told the Filipino population "I shall return". After successfully beating the Japanese Army in 1945, General MacArthur also served as the leader of the allied UN forces during the Korean War. His leadership in Korea was cut short however in 1951, when he was fired by President Truman over a dispute on his plan to invade China. After his firing, MacArthur returned to huge hero's welcome.

Douglas MacArthur

Chester W. Nimitz

(1885-1966)

The only naval officer in this list, Admiral Nimitz stands out as not only the greatest admiral of WW2, but he easily checks off as America's greatest admiral. During WW2, Nimitz led the U.S. Pacific Fleet against the Imperial Japanese naval threat. During the Battle of Midway (1942), Nimitz led a group of carriers and destroyers, that sank 8 Japanese ships. Half of the Japanese ships that sunk were aircraft carriers. Midway proved to be an important battle, due to it ending the looming threat of a Japanese invasion of Hawaii. After the war, Nimitz worked to modernize the U.S.'s submarine fleet during the Cold War. Nimitz played a pivotal role in approval of the world's first nuclear submarine, USS Nautilus, in 1954. Today, Admiral Nimitz is remembered for being the namesake for the nuclear aircraft carrier, the USS Nimitz.

Chester W. Nimitz

Norman Schwarzkopf

(1934-2012)

The only post Cold War general in this list, Schwarzkopf's military achievements are still widely remembered by many who grew up during the 80s and 90s. After Iraqi forces under the command of Saddam Hussein invaded the oil rich kingdom of Kuwait in 1990, it was General Schwarzkopf, along with future Secretary of State General Colin Powell, who led the American led force to liberate Kuwait and prevent any further plans by Iraq to invade Saudi Arabia. The Gulf War was the first major post Cold War conflict, and the U.S.'s first major war since it's failed war in Vietnam. The war proved to be a success for the U.S., when in February 1991 Saddam Hussein's troops retreated back to Iraq leaving Kuwait to be liberated by American, British, and French troops. When he returned to the U.S. in June of 1991, General Schwarzkopf was welcomed with a huge victory parade in Washington.

Norman Schwarzkopf