William W. Belknap
| William Worth Belknap | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| 30th United States Secretary of War | |
|
In office October 25, 1869 – March 2, 1876 |
|
| President | Ulysses S. Grant |
| Preceded by | John Aaron Rawlins |
| Succeeded by | Alphonso Taft |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
September 22, 1829 Newburgh, New York |
| Died | October 12, 1890 (aged 61) Washington, D.C. |
| Political party |
Democratic Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Cora LeRoy Carrie Tomlinson Mrs. John Bower |
| Alma mater | Princeton University |
| Profession |
General; Lawyer Politician;Author |
| Military service | |
| Service/branch |
United States Army Union Army |
| Years of service | 1861–1865 |
| Rank |
 Brigadier General Brevet Major General
|
| Commands | 15th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
William Worth Belknap (September 22, 1829 – October 12, 1890) was a lawyer, soldier in the Union Army, government administrator in Iowa, and the 30th United States Secretary of War. Belknap served with distinction in the Civil War and as an appointed Internal Revenue collector. However, his tenure in Washington D.C. as President Grant's appointed Secretary of War was controversial, with Belknap accused of indirectly selling weapons to France while the United States was ostensibly neutral during the Franco-Prussian War, and accepting illegal payments, known as kickbacks, in exchange for making a tradership appointment. The holders of traderships received exclusive rights to sell goods at U.S. military posts (and often did so at exorbitant prices), making them lucrative and highly sought after. His lavish Washington parties hosted by his beautiful wife Amanda brought on the envy of Democrats, who had regained control of the House in 1875, and worked to spotlight corruption in the Grant administration. In 1876, the trader post scandal led to Belknap's resignation, impeachment by the House, and trial by the Senate. A majority of senators voted to convict; because the prosecution did not obtain the required two-thirds majority, Belknap was acquitted.
A native of New York, Belknap graduated from Princeton University in 1848, studied law with a Georgetown attorney, and passed the bar in 1851. He then moved to Iowa, where he practiced law in partnership with Ralph P. Lowe. Belknap entered politics as a Democrat and was elected to the Iowa House of Representatives in 1857. When the Civil War broke out in 1861, Belknap joined the Union Army; a veteran of the Iowa Militia who had attained the rank of captain, he was commissioned as a major in the 15th Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He took part in numerous engagements, including Shiloh and Corinth, served as a regimental, brigade, division, and corps commander, and served in high-level staff positions. In hand-to-hand combat at the Battle of Atlanta, Belknap captured a wounded Confederate commander. By the end of the war, Belknap had been promoted to brigadier general of volunteers, and received a brevet promotion to major general.
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