Robert Powell Page Wainwright
| Robert Powell Page Wainwright | |
|---|---|
 Robert Powell Page Wainwright | |
| Born |
May 18, 1852 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Died |
November 19, 1902 (aged 50) Manila |
| Place of Burial | Arlington National Cemetery |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1875–02 |
| Rank | Major |
| Unit |
1st U.S. Cavalry 5th U.S. Cavalry |
| Battles/wars |
Indian Wars Spanish-American War Philippine-American War |
| Relations |
Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright I - grandfather Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright II - father Edward W. Serrell - father-in-law Jonathan Wainwright, Jr. - brother Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright IV - son |
Robert Powell Page Wainwright (May 18, 1852 - November 19, 1902) was a U.S. Army officer and West Point graduate, class of 1875, who served in the cavalry for most of his military career.
He began his career as a second lieutenant in the US 1st Cavalry when he was commissioned on 16 June 1875. Captain Wainwright contributed the chapter, "The First Regiment of Cavalry", to The Army of the United States: Historical Sketches of Staff and Line with Portraits of Generals-in-Chief published in 1896.[1]
During the next two decades he served throughout the frontier at several posts leading his troops through skirmishes and scouting patrols. He was promoted to 1st lieutenant on 12 June 1880 and to captain on 4 February 1892. He served as regiment adjutant from 1 October 1886 to 30 September 1890.
He commanded a cavalry squadron at the Battle of Santiago de Cuba during the Spanish-American War. He was promoted to major of the 5th Cavalry Regiment on 29 May 1901. He died on 19 November 1902 while on active duty stationed in the Philippines.[2]
He was posthumously eligible for the Indian Campaign Medal, Spanish Campaign Medal and the Philippine Campaign Medal.
Family
He was married to Josephine Serrell and had three children, Helen Serrell Wainwright, Jennie Pound Serrell Wainwright and Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright IV.
Robert Wainwright was part of a family with strong military tradition.
His wife's father was Brevet Brigadier General Edward W. Serrell. Wainwright's son, Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright IV, was the commander of American and Filipino forces during the Battle of the Philippines (1941-42). Fort Wainwright, Alaska is named in his honor.
Robert Wainwright's father was Lieutenant Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright II, a United States Navy officer who was killed during the American Civil War. Because of his father's service, Wainwright joined the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States and an Hereditary Companion.
Jonathan Wainwright, Jr., Major Wainwright's brother, was a U.S. Navy officer who was killed in battle in 1870 while fighting pirates off the west coast of Mexico. Jennie Wainwright, better known as Jane Mears, was married to Frederick Mears, who served in the U.S. Army from 1899 to 1923, retiring as a colonel. The couple were significant figures in the early years of Anchorage, Alaska, due to Frederick's role with the Alaska Engineering Commission, which was building what became the Alaska Railroad.
Major Wainwright is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
Notes
- ↑ Wainwright, Robert Powell Page (1896). "The First Regiment of Cavalry". In Rodenbough, Theophilus Francis; Haskin, William L. The Army of the United States [Historical Sketches of Staff and Line with Portraits of Generals-in-Chief]. New York: Maynard, Merrill, & Co. pp. 153–172. OCLC 1635675. Retrieved February 12, 2011.
- ↑ Historical Register and Dictionary of the United States Army, 1789 - 1903. Francis B. Heitman. pg. 993.