Winfield Scott Hancock was a United States Army officer and the Democratic nominee for President of the United States in 1880. He served with distinction in the Army for four decades, including service in the Mexican–American War and as a Union general in the American Civil War. Known to his Army colleagues as \”Hancock the Superb\”, he was noted in particular for his personal leadership at the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863. He was named after Winfield Scott, a prominent General in the War of 1812.
About Winfield Scott Hancock in brief
Winfield Scott Hancock was a United States Army officer and the Democratic nominee for President of the United States in 1880. He served with distinction in the Army for four decades, including service in the Mexican–American War and as a Union general in the American Civil War. Known to his Army colleagues as \”Hancock the Superb\”, he was noted in particular for his personal leadership at the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863. His military service continued after the Civil War, as Hancock participated in the military Reconstruction of the South and the Army’s presence at the Western frontier. Hancock’s reputation as a war hero at Gettysburg made him a potential presidential candidate. When the Democrats nominated him for President in 1880, he ran a strong campaign, but was narrowly defeated by Republican James A. Garfield. He was named after Winfield Scott, a prominent General in the War of 1812. His twin brother Hilary Baker Hancock was also a U.S. Army officer who died in World War II. He is survived by his wife, Almira Russell, and two children, Russell and Ada, who died before their parents in 1857 and 1858, respectively. The Hancock and Hoxworth families had lived in Montgomery County for several generations, and were of English, Scottish and Welsh descent. The family moved to Norristown, Pennsylvania, in the late 1830s, and Benjamin was a deacon in the Baptist church and participated in municipal government. The twins were born on February 14, 1824, in Montgomery Square, a hamlet just northwest of Philadelphia in present-day Montgomery Township.
They were named after their father, Benjamin Franklin Hancock, a schoolteacher when his sons were born. He moved the family to Norristsown, the county seat, and began to practice law. He graduated 18th in his class of 25 in 1844, and he was assigned to the infantry. Hancock was commissioned a brevet second lieutenant in the 6th U. S. Infantry regiment, and initially was stationed in Indian Territory in the Red River Valley. In 1846, Hancock worked to secure himself a place at the front. He proved so adept at signing up soldiers that his superiors were reluctant to release him from his post. By July 1847, Hancock was permitted to join his regiment in Puebla, Mexico, where they made up a part of the army led by his namesake, General WinfieldScott. After the final victory, Hancock remained in Mexico with the6th Infantry until the treaty of peace was signed in 1848. He remained there in California in November 1858. Following the resolution of that conflict, Hancock arrived in Utah after the Utah War where the future Confederate General Sidney Johnston was serving as assistant quartermaster and assistant assistant lieutenant general. He later moved to Florida, where Allie Hancock was the only woman on the post. Allie and the children joined him in Florida. He did not see action in the Seminole War, but he was reassigned to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas in 1855.
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