Edward Lawrence Logan
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Edward Lawrence Logan, B.A., LL.B. (b. January 20, 1875, Boston — d. July 6, 1939, Boston) was an American militia officer and jurist. General Edward Lawrence Logan International Airport in Boston is named in his honor.
Logan was born in South Boston to a military family, and attended Boston Latin School and Harvard University. After his graduation in 1897, Logan enlisted in the 9th Infantry of the Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, in which he rapidly advanced.
The following Spring, Logan saw combat in the Spanish-American War, returning to the United States that autumn to enroll in Harvard Law School. Graduating in 1901, Logan returned to his unit while simultaneously building a successful law practice in Boston. In 1911 he was promoted to major and the following year he took command of the 9th as its colonel.
In March, 1917, Logan's unit was mobilised to guard installations in anticipation of the US declaration of war on Germany (see World War I). After several months of guard duty, the 9th was redesignated as the U.S. 101st Infantry Regiment and assigned to the 26th Infantry Division, organized from the National Guards of the New England states. Logan accompanied his troops to France in command of the 101st.
In April 1919, the regiment was relieved of active duty, and Logan oversaw its reorganisation into the Massachusetts National Guard. In January 1921 Logan was promoted to brigadier general and took command of the 1st Infantry Brigade. In March 1923 he was promoted to major general and given command of the 26th Division. As its first post-war commander, General Logan was responsible for reorganizing and training the division as a completely Massachusetts unit.
Throughout the remainder of his life, Logan achieved prominence as an advocate for veterans as the state commander of the American Legion and president of the National Guard Association. He also pursued a political career as a Boston city councillor and state representative and senator. He retired from the Guard in 1938, and died in Boston the following year.
A statue of Gen. Logan by Joseph Coletti was unveiled at the entrance to the former Boston Airport when it was officially renamed the General Edward Lawrence Logan International Airport in a public ceremony in 1956. It has been moved several times to accommodate the airport's growth. Although Logan was not an aviator, he did lobby intensely for veteran benefits, to include the high risk group of pilots.
