Which U.S. President was the last to have served in the military during the American Civil War?

William McKinley, born in 1843, enlisted as a private with the Union Army in June 1861 and served with the 23rd Ohio regiment. He rose through the ranks to captain and at the end of the war was awarded a brevet commission as a major.

Following the American Civil War McKinley studied law and was admitted to the Ohio bar in 1867. His first elected office was as district attorney of Stark county Ohio, elected in 1869. His second foray into politics followed with election to congress in 1876.

More political success followed with election to the Ohio governor's office in 1892. He ran for president in 1896, winning against William Jennings Bryan with 51% of the popular vote and 271 electoral votes. He ran again in the 1900 election against William Jennings Bryan, winning the contest with the young Theodore Roosevelt as his running mate. McKinley died September 13, 1901 from complications due to the gunshot wounds received from his assassin, Leon Czolgosz.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

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26 Comments

Jeannie Ellis

Laurie Bowman, perhaps you know a lot of trivia, but you clearly don’t know how to be kind. I’d choose kindness over being the trivial queen anytime. (Yes, I know that I wrote trivial instead of trivia. )

Joanne Serin

Laurie Bowman, be nice! I didn't know the answer, either, but just made a lucky guess. I knew Grant was the first pres. after the Civil War (taught 14 years at his namesake HS), but that's all. How many Americans do you think know every president that served in the Civil War?

Jody Porter

jgschreck, then the answer would be Lincoln

Mr.LaFaye

Laurie Bowman, You need to take a timeout, go stand in the corner then apologize to ninakamwene as she is from Kenya Africa and I can understand her not knowing 150 year old American history. I think you look at that glass as always being part empty.

Ferdinand Wolfe

why did I get the wrong answer when I chose the correct one. I have noticed that the answer I give is changed a couple times a day

Jacky Pierce Friedman

Got it right

Rae Ann Randall

Got it by doing the math.👍🇺🇸

Cathie Roth Lonnquist

Confusing question.

Lupe Hernandez

Laurie Bowman,AND YOU ARE A KNOW IT ALL?? ONE THING i KNOW IS THAT YOU ARE RUDE, CRUDE AND THOUGHTLESS, YOUR PARENTS DID A LOUSY JOB OF TEACHING YOU GOOD MANNERS.

Tom Seigo

Not that it matters, however, judging from the "voting circle above, many, like me, chose U. S. Grant!

Maho girl

Jeannie Ellis, well said, thank you. I've never seen Ninakamwene write meanly about anyone.

dick aspel

Poorly-or,rather loosely worded-but got it.

Joseph A. Robitaille

I really did some thinking on this question. Nice Q and A.

George Oliver Prince

Took a chance and got it, knew McKinley had served in the Civil War, but there was a chance he got out of the military before one of the others, which would mean one of them was the last to serve