George W. Schofield facts for kids

George Wheeler Schofield (September 20, 1833 – December 17, 1882) was an American Union brevet brigadier general during the period of the American Civil War. He received his appointment as brevet brigadier general dated to January 26, 1865.

George Wheeler Schofield was the brother of John McAllister Schofield who briefly served as Commander of the Army of the Frontier during the Civil War and as U.S. Secretary of War, Superintendent of the United States Military Academy, and Commanding General of the United States Army after the war. During the American Civil War, George Wheeler Schofield served as a lieutenant colonel in the Union Army. After the war, he served with the 41st Infantry and the 10th and 6th cavalries. However, he is perhaps most famous for his association with the Schofield Revolver, a .45-caliber Smith & Wesson revolver that was named after him. His wife Alma died in March 1879. Schofield was promoted to the peacetime rank of lieutenant colonel of the 6th Cavalry in December 1881. He served in Arizona. On December 17, 1882, Schofield in his dress uniform picked up one of his Schofield-patent revolvers and fatally shot himself with it. He was buried in the city cemetery of Freeport, Illinois.