Lew Wallace

Lewis "Lew" Wallace (April 10, 1827–February 15, 1905) was an American Civil War general, U.S. statesman and author, who is probably best remembered for his historical novel Ben-Hur.

Wallace was born in Brookville, Indiana to a prominent local family. His father, David Wallace , later served as Indiana Governor. Lew Wallace served in Mexican-American War and was admitted to the bar in 1849.

At the start of the Civil War, Wallace helped raise troops in Indiana. He eventually rose to Major General in the Union Army, fighting (with some controversy) at Fort Donelson, Shiloh, and Monocacy Junction. He participated in the trials of Lincoln assassination conspirators and of Henry Wirz, commandant of the Andersonville prison camp.

Wallace held a number of important political posts during the 1870s and 1880s. He served as Governor of New Mexico Territory from 1878-1881, and as U.S. Minister to Turkey from 1881-1885. As Governor he offered amnesty to many men involved in the Lincoln County War; in the process he met with Billy the Kid.

While serving as Governor, Wallace penned the novel which made him famous: Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ (1880). The book has never been out of print and has been filmed three times.

Wallace died in Crawfordsville, Indiana in 1905 and is buried in Oak Hill Cemetery.

Other books

• The Fair God
• The Prince of India
• Boyhood of Christ

Sources and external links

• A Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature
• Good overview with a bibliography of his works: http://www-personal.ksu.edu/~rcadams/
• Lew Wallace site in Crawfordsville: http://www.ben-hur.com/
• Wallace in Indiana Civil War history: http://www.mach500.net/liggetkw/incw/hoosier/wallace.htm
• Project Gutenberg e-texts of some of Lew Wallace's works