Who was the first graduate of the United States Military Academy to be offered the rank of General?

The United States Military Academy was established in 1802 at West Point, NY. Even though West Point graduates had distinguished themselves in the Indian Wars and the Mexican War, none had risen to the rank of General in the Regular Army until 1847.

Following graduation from West Point, in 1828, Second Lieutenant Jefferson Davis was assigned to the 1st Infantry Regiment and was stationed at Fort Crawford, Michigan Territory under the Command of Colonel Zachary Taylor. In 1845 he was elected to the US Congress.

In September 1846, Davis participated in the Battle of Monterrey, during which he led a successful charge on the La Teneria fort. On October 28, Davis resigned his seat in the House of Representatives.

On February 22, 1847, Davis fought bravely at the Battle of Buena Vista and was shot in the foot. On May 17, President Polk offered Davis a federal commission as a brigadier general and command of a brigade of militia, becoming the first West Point graduate to be offered the rank. Davis refused the offer having been appointed to the vacant position of United States Senator by Governor Albert G. Brown of Mississippi. On March 7, 1853, he was appointed Secretary of War by President Franklin Pierce. He served in that position until March 4, 1857 when he returned to the Senate.

He formally withdrew from the U.S. Senate on January 21, 1861 after Mississippi seceded from the Union and later became the President of the Confederacy.