Luke Edward Wright

Luke Wright
43rd United States Secretary of War
In office
July 1, 1908 – March 11, 1909
President Theodore Roosevelt
Preceded by William Howard Taft
Succeeded by Jacob M. Dickinson
United States Ambassador to Japan
In office
May 26, 1906 – August 13, 1907
President Theodore Roosevelt
Preceded by Lloyd Carpenter Griscom (Minister)
Succeeded by Thomas O'Brien
Governor-General of the Philippines
In office
February 1, 1904 – April 1, 1906
President Theodore Roosevelt
Preceded by William Howard Taft
Succeeded by Henry Clay Ide
Personal details
Born Luke Edward Wright
(1846-08-29)August 29, 1846
Giles County, Tennessee, U.S.
Died November 17, 1922(1922-11-17) (aged 76)
Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
Political party Democratic (Before 1896)
Republican (1896–1922)
Spouse(s) Katherine Semmes
Education University of Mississippi, Oxford
Military service
Allegiance  Confederate States
Service/branch  Confederate States Army
Rank Second Lieutenant
Battles/wars American Civil War

Luke Edward Wright (August 29, 1846 – November 17, 1922) was a United States political figure. He served as Governor-General of the Philippines between 1904 and 1906 and also as Secretary of War from 1908 to 1909.

Biography

Luke Edward Wright was born in Giles County, Tennessee, and moved with his family to Memphis in 1850. He attended the public schools, and enlisted at fifteen in the Confederate States Army with Company G of the 154th Senior Tennessee Infantry Regiment during the American Civil War. In 1863, Wright was cited for bravery under fire in the Battle of Murfreesboro and was promoted to second lieutenant. After the Civil War, Wright attended the University of Mississippi from 1867 to 1868, but he did not graduate. He married Katherine Semmes in 1868.

After studying law in his father's office, Wright was admitted to the bar and entered into practice in Memphis. For eight years, he served as Tennessee Attorney General, and he was instrumental in establishing a relief committee during an epidemic of yellow fever in 1878. Before the nomination of William Jennings Bryan, Wright was a Democrat.[1][2] In 1900, Wright was a member of the second Philippine Commission and was appointed vice-governor of the Philippines in 1901. Wright became full Governor-General of the Philippines in 1904 and continued in that office until 1906. From 1906 to 1907, Wright served as the first full United States Ambassador to Japan.

From July 1, 1908 to March 1, 1909, Wright served as United States Secretary of War under President Theodore Roosevelt. He stressed actions to eliminate unfit officers and sought to take advantage of aviation technology. He served less than a year before resigning. He returned to private life and died in Memphis in 1922.

Legacy

The "Pool of Pines", better known as Wright Park in Baguio City, Philippines was named after Governor Luke E. Wright, the architect of this long, shallow reflecting pool. A street in Dumaguete City in Negros Oriental province is named after him.

References

  • Bell, William Gardner. "Luke Edward Wright". Secretaries of War and Secretaries of the Army.
  1. ↑ "Mr. Wilson's Cabinet: Will Be Sagacious Men, but Not Political Experts" (PDF). November 7, 1912. Retrieved 2013-02-06.
  2. ↑ Luke Wright papers, 1883-1911, bulk 1900-1906.
Government offices
Preceded by
William Howard Taft		 U.S. Secretary of War
Served under: Theodore Roosevelt
1908–1909		 Succeeded by
Jacob M. Dickinson
Preceded by
William Howard Taft		 Civil Governor of the Philippines
February 1, 1904 – April 1, 1906		 Succeeded by
Henry Clay Ide
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by
Lloyd Carpenter Griscom
Envoy to Japan		 United States Ambassador to Japan
1906–1907		 Succeeded by
Thomas J. O'Brien
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