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{{Short description|Extinct military position in the US}}{{Use American English|date=May 2020}}{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}

factoids

| nominator = President of the United States>PresidentUnited States Congress>Congress advice and consent | termlength = No fixed term| termlength_qualified = | constituting_instrument = An act of the Second Continental Congress| precursor = | formation = 15 June 1775June 1821General (United States)>GEN George Washington{{smallMajor general (United States)>MG Jacob Brown (general){{small>as Commanding General of the United States Army}}Lieutenant general (United States)>LTG Nelson A. Miles| abolished = 8 August 1903Chief of Staff of the United States Army>Chief of Staff of the Army| unofficial_names = | deputy = | salary = | website = }}The Commanding General of the United States Army was the title given to the service chief and highest-ranking officer of the United States Army (and its predecessor the Continental Army), prior to the establishment of the Chief of Staff of the United States Army in 1903. During the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), the title was Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army. In 1783, the title was simplified to Senior Officer of the United States Army. In 1821, the title was changed to Commanding General of the United States Army. The office was often referred to by various other titles, such as "Major General Commanding the Army" or "General-in-Chief".From 1789 until its abolition in 1903, the position of commanding general was legally subordinate to the Secretary of War; it was replaced by the creation of the statutory Chief of Staff of the Army in 1903.

Officeholders

† denotes people who died in office.

Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army

{{Officeholder table start| showorder = y| showimage = y| image_title = Portrait| officeholder_title = Commander-in-Chief| showtermlenght = y| showparty = n| showdefencebranch = n| showaltofficeholder = y| alt_officeholder_title = Notes}}{{Officeholder table| order = 1| image = Portrait of George Washington.jpegGeneral (United States)>General{{efnPosthumous promotion>Promoted posthumously to General of the Armies in 1976, by an Act of Congress ((wikisource:Public Law 94-479|Public Law 94-479)) as part of the United States Bicentennial.}}| officeholder = George Washington| officeholder_sort = Washington, George| officeholder_note = | born_year = 1732| died_year = 1799| term_start = 15 June 1775| term_end = 23 December 178317751512|23}}George Washington in the American Revolution>Appointed by the Second Continental Congress, after being nominated by Samuel Adams and John Adams. Resigned to the Congress of the Confederation, at the end of the American Revolutionary War.}}{{Officeholder table end}}

Senior Officer of the United States Army

{{Officeholder table start| showorder = y| showimage = y| image_title = Portrait| officeholder_title = Senior Officer| showtermlenght = y| showparty = n| showdefencebranch = n| showaltofficeholder = y| alt_officeholder_title = Notes}}{{Officeholder table| order = 1| image = Henry Knox by Gilbert Stuart 1806, detail.jpgMajor general (United States)>Major general| officeholder = Henry Knox| officeholder_sort = Knox, Henry| officeholder_note = | born_year = 1750| died_year = 1806| term_start = 23 December 1783| term_end = 20 June 178417832306|20}}District of Maine>Maine; appointed Secretary of War under Articles of Confederation in 1785.}}{{Officeholder table| order = 2| image = JohnDoughty.jpgBrevet (military)>Brevet Major| officeholder = John Doughty| officeholder_sort = Doughty, John| officeholder_note = | born_year = 1754| died_year = 1826| term_start = 20 June 1784| term_end = 12 August 178417842008|12}}| alt_officeholder = Served when the Army was reduced to only 80 soldiers. Lowest ranking individual ever to command the U.S. Army.}}{{Officeholder table| order = 3| image = Josiah Harmar by Raphaelle Peale.jpegBrigadier general (United States)>Brigadier general| officeholder = Josiah Harmar| officeholder_sort = Harmar, Josiah| officeholder_note = | born_year = 1753| died_year = 1813| term_start = 12 August 1784| term_end = 4 March 179117841203|04}}| alt_officeholder = Served at the beginning of the Northwest Indian War with the Northwestern Confederacy. Removed by President George Washington in the aftermath of the Harmar campaign.}}{{Officeholder table| order = 4| image = General Arthur St. Clair - portrait.jpg| military_rank = Major general| officeholder = Arthur St. Clair| officeholder_sort = St. Clair, Arthur| officeholder_note = | born_year = 1736| died_year = 1818| term_start = 4 March 1791| term_end = 5 March 179217910403|05}}| alt_officeholder = Simultaneously served as Governor of the Northwest Territory (1787–1802). Resigned as Senior Officer at the request of President George Washington, in the aftermath of St. Clair's defeat.}}{{Officeholder table| order = 5| image = Anthony Wayne (1745–1796).jpg| military_rank = Major general| officeholder = Anthony Wayne| officeholder_sort = Wayne, Anthony| officeholder_note = | born_year = 1745| died_year = 1796| died = y| term_start = 13 April 1792| term_end = 15 December 179617921312|15}}| alt_officeholder = Commanded the Legion of the United States during the Northwest Indian War and negotiated the Treaty of Greenville with the Northwestern Confederacy after the Battle of Fallen Timbers.}}{{Officeholder table| order = 6| image = James Wilkinson.jpg| military_rank = Brigadier general| officeholder = James Wilkinson| officeholder_sort = Wilkinson, James| officeholder_note = | born_year = 1757| died_year = 1825| term_start = 15 December 1796| term_end = 13 July 179817961507|13}}Quasi War. Responsible for establishing Reserve Corps in the Ohio River Valley and the lower Mississippi River Valley to be deployed in the event of war with First French Republic>France or Spain. Later discovered by historian Charles Gayarré to have been a Spanish spy.}}{{Officeholder table| order = 7| image = Portrait of George Washington.jpegLieutenant general (United States)>Lieutenant general| officeholder = George Washington| officeholder_sort = Washington, George| officeholder_note = | born_year = 1732| died_year = 1799| died = y| term_start = 13 July 1798| term_end = 14 December 179917981312|14}}Presidency of George Washington>1789–1797). Appointed by President John Adams during the Quasi-War against the French First Republic>French Republic. Did not actively command the Army during this period but was prepared to lead the Army if the need arose.}}{{Officeholder table| order = 8| image = Alexander Hamilton By William J Weaver.jpg| military_rank = Major general| officeholder = Alexander Hamilton| officeholder_sort = Hamilton, Alexander| officeholder_note = | born_year = 1755/1757| died_year = 1804| term_start = 14 December 1799| term_end = 15 June 180017991406|15}}United States Secretary of the Treasury>Secretary of the Treasury (1789–1795). Served as Inspector General of the Army with rank of major general, with effective command-and-control during the Quasi-War from 19 July 1798. Became Senior Officer in the Army after the death of Washington.}}{{Officeholder table| order = 6| image = James Wilkinson.jpgPromoted to major general during the War of 1812 and retired on 15 June 1815.}}| officeholder = James Wilkinson| officeholder_sort = Wilkinson, James| officeholder_note = | born_year = 1757| died_year = 1825| term_start = 15 June 1800| term_end = 27 January 181218001501|27}}| alt_officeholder = Commanded during the Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Known for suppressing the Burr conspiracy.}}{{Officeholder table| order = 9| image = Gilbert Stuart - Major-General Henry Dearborn - 1913.793 - Art Institute of Chicago.jpg| military_rank = Major general| officeholder = Henry Dearborn| officeholder_sort = Dearborn, Henry| officeholder_note = | born_year = 1751| died_year = 1829| term_start = 27 January 1812| term_end = 15 June 181518122706|15}}United States Secretary of War>Secretary of War (1801–1809). Last American Revolutionary War veteran to serve as Senior Officer. Served as the Commanding General at the beginning of the War of 1812. Known for authorizing the American invasion of Lower Canada, including the Battle of York. Reassigned to administrative post in New York City after achieving few victories.}}{{Officeholder table| order = 10| image = Jacob Jennings Brown.jpg| military_rank = Major generalJacob Brown (general)>Jacob Brown| officeholder_sort = Brown, Jacob| officeholder_note = | born_year = 1775| died_year = 1828| term_start = 15 June 1815| term_end = June 182118151506|01}}United States Army Recruiting Command>General Recruiting Service.}}{{Officeholder table end}}

Commanding General of the United States Army

{{Officeholder table start| showorder = y| showimage = y| image_title = Portrait| officeholder_title = Commanding General| showtermlenght = y| showparty = n| showdefencebranch = n| showaltofficeholder = y| alt_officeholder_title = Notes}}{{Officeholder table| order = 1| image = Jacob Jennings Brown.jpg| military_rank = Major generalJacob Brown (general)>Jacob Brown| officeholder_sort = Brown, Jacob| officeholder_note = | born_year = 1775| died_year = 1828| died = y| term_start = June 1821| term_end = 24 February 182818210102|24}}| alt_officeholder = .}}{{Officeholder table| order = 2| image = AlexanderMacomb-CC.jpg| military_rank = Major generalAlexander Macomb (general)>Alexander Macomb| officeholder_sort = Macomb, Alexander| officeholder_note = | born_year = 1782| died_year = 1841| died = y| term_start = 29 May 1828| term_end = 25 June 184118282906|25}}| alt_officeholder = Commanding general at the Battle of Plattsburgh. Advocated expanding the U.S. Army during his tenure.}}{{Officeholder table| order = 3| image = Winfield Scott by Fredricks, 1862 crop.jpg| military_rank = Brevet Lieutenant general| officeholder = Winfield Scott| officeholder_sort = Scott, Winfield| officeholder_note = | born_year = 1786| died_year = 1866| term_start = 5 July 1841| term_end = 1 November 186118410511|01}}Battle for Mexico City in 1847, during the Mexican–American War. Runner-up in the 1852 United States presidential election>1852 presidential election. Commanded the Union Army at the beginning of the American Civil War. Developed the Anaconda Plan to defeat the Confederate States of America and recommended expanding the Regular Army (United States)>Regular Army rather than relying on militia. Resigned after the Union defeat at the First Battle of Bull Run. Age 75 at his retirement, Scott was the oldest person to serve as Commanding General.}}{{Officeholder table| order = 4| image = GeorgeMcClellan2 (cropped).jpg| military_rank = Major general| officeholder = George B. McClellan| officeholder_sort = McClellan, George B.| officeholder_note = | born_year = 1826| died_year = 1885| term_start = 1 November 1861| term_end = 11 March 186218610103|11}}Army of the Potomac. Removed by President Abraham Lincoln after the Peninsula campaign and McClellan's failure to pursue the Army of Northern Virginia after the Battle of Antietam. Later unsuccessfully George McClellan 1864 presidential campaign>campaigned with the Democratic Party (United States) in the 1864 United States presidential election>1864 election.}}style="text-align:center;"Position vacant(11 March 1862 – 23 July 1862){{efnCivil War High Commands. The gap from 11 March 1862 to 23 July 1862 was filled with direct control of the Army by President Abraham Lincoln and United States Secretary of War>Secretary of War Edwin Stanton, with the help of an unofficial "War Board" that was established on 17 March 1862. The board consisted of Ethan A. Hitchcock (general), the chairman, with Department of War bureau chiefs Lorenzo Thomas, Montgomery C. Meigs, Joseph Gilbert Totten>Joseph G. Totten, James Wolfe Ripley, and Joseph Pannell Taylor>Joseph P. Taylor.group=}} {{Officeholder table| order = 5| image = Henry Wager Halleck - Brady-Handy.jpg| military_rank = Major general| officeholder = Henry Halleck| officeholder_sort = Halleck, Henry| officeholder_note = | born_year = 1815| died_year = 1872| term_start = 23 July 1862| term_end = 9 March 186418622303|09}}| alt_officeholder = Reassigned as the Army's chief of staff, subordinate to Grant.}}{{Officeholder table| order = 6| image = GenUSGrant.jpgGeneral of the Army (United States)>General of the Army| officeholder = Ulysses S. Grant| officeholder_sort = Grant, Ulysses S.| officeholder_note = | born_year = 1822| died_year = 1885| term_start = 9 March 1864| term_end = 4 March 186918640903|04}}Battle of Vicksburg and the Chattanooga campaign. When appointed, Grant served in the field, his headquarters attached to the Army of the Potomac. Defeated the Army of Northern Virginia at the Overland Campaign and the Siege of Petersburg>Petersburg campaign. Accepted General Robert E. Lee's Battle of Appomattox Court House#Surrender at the Battle of Appomattox Court House>Battle of Appomattox. Resigned to become the List of presidents of the United States president of the United States after winning the 1868 United States presidential election>1868 election. (1869–1877).}}{{Officeholder table| order = 7| image = General William T. Sherman (4190887790) (cropped).jpg| military_rank = General of the Army| officeholder = William Tecumseh Sherman| officeholder_sort = Sherman, William Tecumseh| officeholder_note = | born_year = 1820| died_year = 1891| term_start = 8 March 1869| term_end = 1 November 188318690811|01}}Sherman's March to the Sea>March to the Sea and the Campaign of the Carolinas during the American Civil War. Served as commanding general during the Modoc War, the Great Sioux War of 1876, and the Nez Perce War. Resigned position; retired upon reaching mandatory retirement age of 64 in 1884.}}{{Officeholder table| order = 8| image = Philip Sheridan 1.jpg| military_rank = General of the Army| officeholder = Philip Sheridan| officeholder_sort = Sheridan, Philip| officeholder_note = | born_year = 1831| died_year = 1888| died = y| term_start = 1 November 1883| term_end = 5 August 188818830108|05}}Reconstruction era>Reconstruction, and the Indian Wars. Influential in establishment of Yellowstone National Park.}}{{Officeholder table| order = 9| image = John M Schofield by CM Bell, c1860s (cropped).JPG| military_rank = Lieutenant general| officeholder = John Schofield| officeholder_sort = Schofield, John| officeholder_note = | born_year = 1831| died_year = 1906| term_start = 14 August 1888| term_end = 29 September 189518881409|29}}| alt_officeholder = Former military commander during the American Civil War and Reconstruction. Advised the government during the Pullman Strike. Retired upon reaching mandatory retirement age of 64.}}{{Officeholder table| order = 10| image = Nelson A. Miles by Brands Studios, 1898.jpg| military_rank = Lieutenant general| officeholder = Nelson A. Miles| officeholder_sort = Miles, Nelson A.| officeholder_note = | born_year = 1839| died_year = 1925| term_start = 5 October 1895| term_end = 8 August 190318950508|08}}Spanish–American War and the United States Army beef scandal>Army beef scandal. Retired upon reaching mandatory retirement age of 64. Position replaced with the Army Chief of Staff upon Miles's retirement.}}{{Officeholder table end}}

Timeline

ImageSize = width:1000 height:auto barincrement:10PlotArea = top:10 bottom:50 right:160 left:20AlignBars = lateDateFormat = yyyyPeriod = from:1770 till:1910TimeAxis = orientation:horizontalScaleMajor = unit:year increment:10 start:1770Colors = Legend = orientation:vertical position:rightLineData = BarData = PlotData=

See also

• United States military seniority

Notes

{{notelist|2}}

Bibliography

• Historical Resources Branch; United States Army Center of Military History.
• BOOK

• BOOK

• BOOK

{{US Army Chiefs of Staff}}{{Government of the United States under the Articles of Confederation}}{{Star officer ranks}}{{Authority control}}