Ambrose Everett Burnside

Ambrose Burnside
Ambrose Burnside, circa 1880
United States Senator from Rhode Island
In office March 4, 1875 – September 13, 1881
Preceded by	William Sprague IV
Succeeded by	Nelson W. Aldrich
30th Governor of Rhode Island
In office May 29, 1866 – May 25, 1869
Lieutenant	William Greene Pardon Stevens
Preceded by	James Y. Smith
Succeeded by	Seth Padelford
Personal details
Born	Ambrose Everett Burnside May 23, 1824 Liberty, Indiana
Died	September 13, 1881(1881-09-13) (aged 57) Bristol, Rhode Island
Cause of death	Angina
Resting place	Swan Point Cemetery Providence, Rhode Island
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Mary Richmond Bishop (m. 1852; her death 1876)
Education	United States Military Academy
Profession	Soldier, inventor, industrialist
Signature
Military service
Nickname(s)	Burn
Allegiance	United States of America Union
Service/branch	United States Army Union Army
Years of service	1847–1865
Rank	Major General
Commands	Army of the Potomac Army of the Ohio
Battles/wars	Mexican–American War American Civil War First Battle of Bull Run Burnside's North Carolina Expedition Battle of Roanoke Island Battle of New Bern Maryland Campaign Battle of South Mountain Battle of Antietam Battle of Fredericksburg Morgan's Raid Knoxville Campaign Overland Campaign Battle of the Wilderness Battle of Spotsylvania Court House Battle of North Anna Battle of Cold Harbor Siege of Petersburg Battle of the Crater

Mexican–American War
American Civil War

Ambrose Everett Burnside (May 23, 1824 – September 13, 1881) was an American soldier, railroad executive, inventor, industrialist, and politician from Rhode Island, serving as governor and a United States Senator. As a Union Army general in the American Civil War, he conducted successful campaigns in North Carolina and East Tennessee, as well as countering the raids of Confederate General John Hunt Morgan, but suffered disastrous defeats at the Battle of Fredericksburg and Battle of the Crater. His distinctive style of facial hair became known as sideburns, derived from his last name. He was also the first president of the National Rifle Association.

Burnside was born in Liberty, Indiana and was the fourth of nine children of Edghill and Pamela (or Pamilia) Brown Burnside, a family of Scottish origin. His great-great-grandfather Robert Burnside (1725–1775) was born in Scotland and settled in the Province of South Carolina. His father was a native of South Carolina; he was a slave owner who freed his slaves when he relocated to Indiana. Ambrose attended Liberty Seminary as a young boy, but his education was interrupted when his mother died in 1841; he was apprenticed to a local tailor, eventually becoming a partner in the business.