Adelbert Ames

Adelbert Ames, born on October thirty-first, eighteen thirty-five, was a prominent American sailor, soldier, businessman, and politician. He served with distinction as a Union Army general during the American Civil War, earning a reputation as a staunch supporter of political equality for African Americans. His commitment to these ideals was evident during his tenure as the military governor and later as the civilian governor of Mississippi during the Reconstruction era.

Ames was a member of the Radical Republican faction and played a significant role in shaping the political landscape of Mississippi. His governorship was marked by controversy, as historians have debated his legacy, with some portraying him as a villain while others, particularly Black historians and neo-abolitionist writers, have championed his cause. Notably, he was the last Republican to serve as the state governor of Mississippi until Kirk Fordice took office in January nineteen ninety-two, a staggering one hundred sixteen years after Ames vacated the position.

In addition to his political career, Ames served as a United States Army general during the Spanish–American War in eighteen ninety-eight. He was the penultimate surviving general officer of the Civil War, passing away at the remarkable age of ninety-seven in nineteen thirty-three. His legacy continued as he was outlived only by Aaron Daggett, who died in nineteen thirty-eight. However, Ames holds the distinction of being the last surviving Civil War general who had held his rank in the regular U.S. Army.