George E. Spencer

1836–1893 (age 57)

Military Officer/Politician

Biography

George E. Spencer (1836–1893) rose from Civil War officer to political leader, serving the Union cause with distinction before representing the people of Alabama in the U.S. Senate during Reconstruction. His military service gave him a deep appreciation for national unity, which he carried into the often turbulent halls of Congress.

He later returned to private life with persistent devotion to the ideals that had guided him in uniform, and he rests at Arlington National Cemetery, where his dual military and public careers are respectfully remembered.