Gouverneur Kemble Warren

Biography

Gouverneur Kemble Warren graduated from West Point in 1850 and first made his mark as a topographical engineer before the Civil War thrust him into combat command. His decisive defense of Little Round Top at Gettysburg preserved the Union line during a pivotal battle and established his reputation for cool courage under pressure.

After the war he returned to engineering work for the government, continuing to guide river and harbor improvements, even as he pursued the restoration of his own military reputation after controversies late in the war; he remained committed to public service until his death in 1882.