Brigadier General George Wythe McCook, (USA)

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Brigadier General George Wythe McCook, (USA)

Birthdate:
Birthplace: Canonsburg, Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States
Death: December 28, 1877 (56)
Steubenville, Jefferson County, Ohio, United States
Place of Burial: 1720 Sunset Boulevard, Steubenville, Jefferson County, Ohio, 43952, United States
Immediate Family:

Son of Major Daniel McCook, Sr. (USA) and Martha McCook
Brother of Major Latimer Abraham McCook, MD (USA); John James McCook; Catherine McCook; Brigadier General Robert Latimer McCook, (USA); Mary Jane Baldwin and 6 others

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About Brigadier General George Wythe McCook, (USA)

Brigadier General George Wythe McCook, (USA)

General McCook was a lawyer, politician, and soldier from the state of Ohio in the United States. He was the Ohio Attorney General and an officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He was a member of the famed Fighting McCooks, a prominent military family that contributed more than a dozen officers to the war effort.

Early Life and Career

McCook was born in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, the son of a local attorney, Daniel McCook and Martha Latimer McCook. He was one of an eventual twelve children (nine boys and three girls). In 1826 the family moved to New Lisbon, Ohio, and then to Carrollton. He graduated from Ohio University and subsequently studied law with Edwin M. Stanton, and afterward became his partner. He served as an officer in the 3rd Ohio Infantry Regiment throughout the Mexican War, and returned from the war as its commander.

He was the Attorney General of Ohio from 1854–1856 and edited the first volume of the "Ohio State Reports." During his term in office, McCook specialized in railroad law. His skill in this area was noticed by the Steubenville & Indiana Railroad Company, and after his term ended, the company sent him to Europe on legal business.

McCook was a delegate to the 1860 Democratic National Convention in Charleston, South Carolina.

Civil War Service

At the war's outset, McCook was one of the first four brigadier generals selected by the Governor of Ohio to command the troops from that state, but, because of impaired health from his Mexican service, McCook was prevented from accepting that post. Later, he was appointed as the lieutenant colonel of the 2nd Ohio Infantry, and spent much of the war recruiting volunteers for several new regiments. He was named by Governor William Dennison as the Ohio Adjutant General.

Later, he accepted an appointment as the colonel of the 157th Ohio Infantry, Hundred Days Regiment. He commanded the prisoner-of-war camp at Fort Delaware.

At the end of the war, he received the brevet rank of brigadier general, dating from March 13, 1865.

Postbellum Career

After the war, McCook resumed his legal practice and political career. In 1871 he was the Democratic candidate for governor of Ohio. However, he lost to another former Union Army officer, Col. Edward F. Noyes, by more than twenty thousand votes.

He, with the Rev. Dr. Charles Beatty, were the largest contributors to the erection of the Second Presbyterian Church at Steubenville, Ohio, of which he was a trustee.

McCook died in Steubenville and is buried in Union Cemetery.

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Brigadier General George Wythe McCook, (USA)'s Timeline

1821
November 21, 1821
Canonsburg, Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States
1877
December 28, 1877
Age 56
Steubenville, Jefferson County, Ohio, United States
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Union Cemetery, 1720 Sunset Boulevard, Steubenville, Jefferson County, Ohio, 43952, United States