Jeremiah McLain Rusk | |
---|---|
2nd United States Secretary of Agriculture | |
In office March 6, 1889 – March 6, 1893 |
|
President |
Benjamin Harrison Grover Cleveland |
Preceded by | Norman J. Coleman |
Succeeded by | Julius S. Morton |
15th Governor of Wisconsin | |
In office January 2, 1882 – January 7, 1889 |
|
Lieutenant |
Sam S. Fifield George W. Ryland |
Preceded by | William E. Smith |
Succeeded by | William D. Hoard |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Wisconsin's 7th district |
|
In office March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1877 |
|
Preceded by | District Created |
Succeeded by | Herman L. Humphrey |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Wisconsin's 6th district |
|
In office March 4, 1871 – March 3, 1873 |
|
Preceded by | Cadwallader C. Washburn |
Succeeded by | Philetus Sawyer |
Personal details | |
Born |
Malta, Ohio |
June 17, 1830
Died | November 21, 1893 Viroqua, Wisconsin |
(aged 63)
Political party | Republican |
Profession | Politician, Banker, Farmer |
Military service | |
Service/branch |
United States Army Union Army |
Rank |
Lieutenant Colonel Brevet Brigadier General |
Unit | 25th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment |
Battles/wars | American Civil War |
Jeremiah McLain Rusk (June 17, 1830 – November 21, 1893) was a U.S. Representative, the 15th Governor of the U.S. state of Wisconsin from 1882 to 1889 and the United States Secretary of Agriculture from 1889 to 1893.
Rusk was born in Malta, Ohio. He was a member of the Republican Party. He began as a planter, then turned to innkeeping and finally to banking before the American Civil War.
Rusk started his service with the Union Army during Civil War as major of the 25th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment on August 14, 1862. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel on September 16, 1863. He took command of the regiment on July 22, 1864 when Colonel Milton Montgomery was wounded and captured at Decatur, Georgia during the Battle of Atlanta. He continued in command after Montgomery was exchanged because Montgomery was given command of the brigade to which the 25th Wisconsin Infantry was assigned. Rusk was wounded at Salkehatchie River, Georgia on January 20, 1865. Rusk was mustered out of the volunteers on June 7, 1865. He received an appointment as brevet colonel to rank from March 13, 1865, preliminary to his appointment as a brevet brigadier general of volunteers. On February 24, 1866, President Andrew Johnson nominated Rusk for appointment to the grade of brevet brigadier general of volunteers to rank from March 13, 1865, and the United States Senate confirmed the appointment on April 10, 1866.