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Collection John J. Pershing Papers

Timeline

A chronology of key events in the life and career of General John J. Pershing (1860-1948), army officer and author.

John J. Pershing (1860-1948)

  1. 1860, Sept. 13

    Born, Laclede County, Mo.

  2. 1876-1880

    Taught, Mound School, Prairie Mound, Mo.

  3. 1880

    A.B., State Normal School, Kirksville, Mo.

  4. 1886

    Graduated, United States Military Academy, West Point, N.Y., as senior cadet captain, the highest honor conferred

  5. 1886-1890

    Second lieutenant, 6th Cavalry; took part in New Mexico and Arizona Apache campaigns

  6. 1890-1891

    Served in Sioux campaigns in South Dakota

  7. 1891-1895

    Military instructor, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Neb.; promoted to first lieutenant

  8. 1896

    In charge of roundup of Cree Indians who were deported to Canada

  9. 1897-1898

    Instructor in tactics, United States Military Academy, West Point, N.Y.

  10. 1898

    Served with 10th Cavalry, Santiago, Cuba; appointed chief officer of volunteers

  11. 1898-1899

    Organized Bureau of Insular Affairs and was its chief until August 1899

  12. 1899-1903

    Served in Philippine Islands

  13. 1901

    Captain, 1st Cavalry; later transferred to 15th Cavalry in order to remain in Philippines

  14. 1903-1904

    Resumed staff duty in Washington, D.C., and studied at Army War College

  15. 1903-1906

    Member, general staff of the army

  16. 1905

    Married Helen F. Warren (died 1915)

  17. 1905-1906

    Military attaché, Tokyo, Japan; with Tamemoto Kuroki's army in Manchuria, Mar.-Sept. 1905

  18. 1906

    Promoted from captain to brigadier general

  19. 1906-1908

    Commander, Fort McKinley, Philippines

  20. 1909-1913

    Governor, Moro Province, Philippines

  21. 1913

    Took command of 8th Cavalry Brigade, Presidio, San Francisco, Calif.; ordered to El Paso, Tex.

  22. 1915

    Death of wife and their three daughters when their home burned, Presidio, San Francisco, Calif.

  23. 1916-1917

    Commanded troops sent to Mexico in pursuit of Pancho Villa

  24. 1917-1919

    Commander-in-chief, American Expeditionary Forces

  25. 1919

    Confirmed by Senate as general of the armies of the United States

  26. 1921-1924

    Chief of staff, United States Army

  27. 1931

    Published My Experiences in the World War. New York: Frederick A. Stokes Co.

  28. 1948, July 15

    Died, Washington, D.C.