Isaac Ingalls Stevens

Isaac Stevens
Isaac Stevens during the American Civil War
1st Governor of Washington Territory
In office November 25, 1853 – August 11, 1857
Appointed by	Franklin Pierce
Succeeded by	LaFayette McMullen
Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives from Washington Territory's at-large district
In office March 4, 1857 – March 3, 1861
Preceded by	James Patton Anderson
Succeeded by	William H. Wallace
Personal details
Born	(1818-03-25)March 25, 1818 North Andover, Massachusetts
Died	September 1, 1862(1862-09-01) (aged 44) Chantilly, Virginia
Resting place	Island Cemetery, Newport, Rhode Island
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Margaret Hazard Stevens
Children	Hazard, Virginia, Kate, Gertrude, Susan
Alma mater	United States Military Academy
Profession	Soldier
Military service
Allegiance	United States of America Union
Service/branch	United States Army Union Army
Years of service	1839–1853 1861–1862
Rank	Brigadier General Major General (posthumous)
Commands	79th New York Infantry Rgt. 1st Division, IX Corps
Battles/wars	Mexican-American War Yakima War American Civil War Battle of Chantilly †

Mexican-American War
Yakima War
American Civil War

Isaac Ingalls Stevens (March 25, 1818 – September 1, 1862) was the first Governor of Washington Territory, serving from 1853 to 1857. He also served as a U.S. Congressman, and a Brigadier General in the Union Army during the American Civil War until his death at the Battle of Chantilly. He was appointed posthumously to the grade of Major General of volunteers.

Stevens was born and raised in Massachusetts, leaving his home state for the United States Military Academy at West Point in the late 1830s. He graduated in 1839, at the top of his class, and served for a number of years with the Army Corps of Engineers. He was promoted to first lieutenant in 1840.

Stevens was the adjutant of the Corps of Engineers during the Mexican-American War, seeing action at the siege of Vera Cruz and at Cerro Gordo, Contreras, and Churubusco. In the latter fight, he caught the attention of his superiors, who rewarded him with the brevet rank of captain. He was again cited and breveted for gallantry at the Battle of Chapultepec, this time to the rank of Major. He participated in combat at Molino del Rey, and the Battle for Mexico City, where he was severely wounded. He later wrote a book on his adventures, Campaigns of the Rio Grande and Mexico, with Notices of the Recent Work of Major Ripley (New York, 1851).