William Louis Marshall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William Louis Marshall
|
|
|---|---|
William Louis Marshall, Chief of Engineers 1908–1910
|
|
| Born | June 11, 1846 Washington, Kentucky |
| Died | July 2, 1920 (aged 74) Washington, D.C. |
| Place of burial | |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/ |
United States Army |
| Years of service | 1862–1863,1868–1910 |
| Rank | Brigadier general |
| Commands held | Chief of Engineers |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
| Signature |  |
William Louis Marshall (born June 11, 1846, in Washington, Kentucky – died July 2, 1920) was a very important person in the US Corps of Engineers. This group of engineers in the United States Army helps build things like dams, canals, and flood control systems.
Contents
Who Was William Louis Marshall?
William Louis Marshall was an American military officer and engineer. He is best known for his work with the United States Army Corps of Engineers. He helped design and build many important projects across the United States. These projects included canals, waterways, and even fortifications.
Early Life and Military Start
William Louis Marshall was born in Washington, Kentucky. When he was just 16 years old, he joined the 10th Kentucky Cavalry. This was during the American Civil War, and he fought for the Union Army.
After the war, he went to the United States Military Academy. This is a famous school for training army officers. He graduated in 1868 and became an officer in the Corps of Engineers.
Exploring the West
From 1872 to 1876, Marshall joined an important trip called the Wheeler Survey. He worked with Lieutenant George Wheeler to explore parts of the American West. Marshall walked and rode horses for thousands of miles during this time.
On one of these trips, he made an important discovery. He found a mountain pass in central Colorado. This pass was later named Marshall Pass in his honor.
Building and Innovating
Marshall was known for his smart ideas and new ways of building. He worked on many big projects that helped improve how people traveled and moved goods across the country.
Improving Waterways
Marshall helped improve the Lower Mississippi River near Vicksburg. This made it easier for boats to travel there. He also worked on the Fox–Wisconsin Waterway canal system in Wisconsin. Canals are man-made rivers that connect natural waterways.
From 1888 to 1899, he was the Chicago District Engineer. During this time, he planned and started building the Illinois and Mississippi Canal. This canal was a big project that connected major rivers.
New Ways to Build
Marshall was very creative in his engineering work. He used concrete in new and smart ways for building. He also came up with original methods for building canal locks. Locks are like water elevators that help boats move between different water levels in a canal. His methods saved a lot of money.
Later Career and Legacy
From 1900 to 1908, Marshall was stationed in New York. There, he led the Ambrose Channel project. This project made a deeper path for ships to enter New York Harbor. He also helped make standard ways to build military forts.
Marshall retired on June 11, 1910. He was the last Chief of Engineers who had served in the Civil War. Even after retiring, his engineering skills were still needed. President William Howard Taft asked him to be a special advisor. Marshall helped the Secretary of the Interior with projects about hydroelectric power. This is a way to make electricity using the power of moving water.
General Marshall passed away on July 2, 1920, in Washington, D.C. His work greatly impacted how America's waterways and defenses were built.
