Global political history

Global political history from 3000 BC to the 21st century – political leaders, elections, and more.

United States Military

United States Military Unified Commands

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
General of the Army Omar Nelson Bradley

Date of birth/date of death: b. February 12 1893; d. April 8 1981

Military ranks: Promoted to Brigadier General, 1941. Promoted to Major General, 1942. Promoted to Lieutenant General, 1943. Promoted to General, 1945. Promoted to General of the Army, 1950.

1949 – 1953

General Colin Luther Powell

Date of birth/date of death: b. April 5 1937; d. October 18 2021.

1989 – 1993


Commander of United States Central Command
General Tommy Ray Franks

Date of birth/date of death: b. June 17 1945.

2000 – 2003


Commander of United States Southern Command
General John Francis Kelly

Date of birth/date of death: b. May 11 1950.

2012 – 2016


Director of the United States Defense Intelligence Agency
Lieutenant General James Robert Clapper, Jr.

Date of birth/date of death: b. March 14 1941.

1991 – 1995


Director of the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency
James Robert Clapper, Jr.

Date of birth/date of death: b. March 14 1941.

2001 – 2006




United States Army

High Command of the United States Army

Commander in Chief of the Continental Army
General George Washington

Date of birth/date of death: b. February 22 1732; d. December 14 1799.

1775 – 1783

Senior Officer of the United States Army
Major General Henry Knox

Date of birth/date of death: b. July 25 1750; d. October 25 1806.

1783 – 1784

Brigadier General Josiah Harmar

Date of birth/date of death: b. November 10 1753; d. August 20 1813.

1784 – 1791

Major General Arthur St. Clair

Date of birth/date of death: b. March 23 1737; d. August 31 1818.

1791 – 1792

Major General Anthony Wayne

Date of birth/date of death: b. January 1 1745; d. December 15 1796.

1792 – 1796

Brigadier General James Wilkinson

Date of birth/date of death: b. March 24 1757; d. December 28 1825.

1796 – 1798

Lieutenant General George Washington

Date of birth/date of death: b. February 22 1732; d. December 14 1799.

1798 – 1799

Major General Alexander Hamilton

Date of birth/date of death: b. January 11 1755/1757; d. July 12 1804.

1799 – 1800

Brigadier General James Wilkinson

Date of birth/date of death: b. March 24 1757; d. December 28 1825.

1800 – 1812

Major General Henry Dearborn

Date of birth/date of death: b. February 23 1751; d. June 6 1829.

1812 – 1815

Major General Jacob Jennings Brown

Date of birth/date of death: b. May 9 1775; d. February 24 1828.

1815 – 1821

Commanding General of the United States Army
Major General Jacob Jennings Brown

Date of birth/date of death: b. May 9 1775; d. February 24 1828.

1821 – 1828

Major General Alexander Macomb

Date of birth/date of death: b. April 3 1782; d. June 25 1841.

1828 – 1841

Lieutenant General Winfield Scott

Date of birth/date of death: b. June 13 1786; d. May 29 1866.

1841 – 1861

Major General George Brinton McClellan

Date of birth/date of death: b. December 3 1826; d. October 29 1885.

1861 – 1862

Major General Henry Wager Halleck

Date of birth/date of death: b. January 16 1815; d. January 9 1872.

1862 – 1864

General of the Army Ulysses S. Grant

Date of birth/date of death: b. April 27 1822; d. July 23 1885

Military ranks: Promoted to Brigadier General, 1861. Promoted to Major General, 1863. Promoted to Lieutenant General, 1864. Promoted to General of the Army, 1866. Retired from the military, 1869.

1864 – 1869

General of the Army William Tecumseh Sherman

Date of birth/date of death: b. February 8 1820; d. February 14 1891.

1869 – 1883

Lieutenant General Philip Henry Sheridan

Date of birth/date of death: b. March 6 1831; d. August 5 1888.

1883 – 1888

Lieutenant General John McAllister Schofield

Date of birth/date of death: b. September 29 1831; d. March 4 1906.

1888 – 1895

Lieutenant General Nelson Appleton Miles

Date of birth/date of death: b. August 8 1839; d. May 15 1925.

1895 – 1903


Chief of Staff of the United States Army
Lieutenant General Adna Romanza Chaffee

Date of birth/date of death: b. April 14 1842; d. November 1 1914.

1904 – 1906

Major General James Franklin Bell

Date of birth/date of death: b. January 9 1856; d. January 8 1919.

1906 – 1910

General Tasker Howard Bliss

Date of birth/date of death: b. December 31 1853; d. November 9 1930.

1917 – 1918

General of the Armies John Joseph “Black Jack” Pershing

Date of birth/date of death: b. September 13 1860; d. July 15 1948.

1921 – 1924

General of the Army Dwight David Eisenhower

Date of birth/date of death: b. October 14 1890; d. March 28 1969

Military ranks: Promoted to Brigadier General, 1941. Promoted to Major General, 1942. Promoted to Lieutenant General, 1942. Promoted to General, 1943. Promoted to General of the Army, 1944.

1945 – 1948

General Omar Nelson Bradley

Date of birth/date of death: b. February 12 1893; d. April 8 1981

Military ranks: Promoted to Brigadier General, 1941. Promoted to Major General, 1942. Promoted to Lieutenant General, 1943. Promoted to General, 1945. Promoted to General of the Army, 1950.

1948 – 1949


Commanding General Army Ground Forces
General Joseph Warren “Vinegar Joe” Stilwell

Date of birth/date of death: b. March 19 1883; d. October 12 1946

Military ranks: Promoted to Brigadier General, 1939. Promoted to Major General, 1940. Promoted to Lieutenant General, 1942. Promoted to General, 1944.

1945


Adjutant General of the Continental Army
Major General Horatio Lloyd Gates

Date of birth/date of death: b. July 26 1727; d. April 10 1806.

1775 – 1776

Brigadier General George Weedon (*acting)

Date of birth/date of death: b. 1734; d. 1793.

1777

Timothy Pickering

Date of birth/date of death: b. July 17 1745; d. January 29 1829.

1777 – 1778

Adjutant General of the United States Army
Brigadier General Zebulon Montgomery Pike

Date of birth/date of death: b. January 5 1779; d. April 27 1813.

1813

Brigadier General William Henry Winder

Date of birth/date of death: b. February 18 1775; d. May 24 1824.

1814

Brigadier General Lorenzo Thomas

Date of birth/date of death: b. October 26 1804; d. March 2 1875.

1861 – 1869

Lieutenant General Henry Clark Corbin

Date of birth/date of death: b. September 15 1842; d. September 8 1909.

1898 – 1904


Inspector General of the United States Army
Major General Friedrich Wilhelm August Heinrich Ferdinand von Steuben

Date of birth/date of death: b. September 17 1730; d. November 28 1794.

1778 – 1784

Major General Alexander Hamilton

Date of birth/date of death: b. January 11 1755/1757; d. July 12 1804.

1798 – 1800

Brigadier General Zebulon Montgomery Pike

Date of birth/date of death: b. January 5 1779; d. April 27 1813.

1813

Brigadier General William Henry Winder

Date of birth/date of death: b. February 18 1775; d. May 24 1824.

1814

Brigadier General Delos Bennett Sackett

Date of birth/date of death: b. April 14 1822; d. March 8 1885.

1881 – 1885


Quartermaster General of the United States Army
Major General Nathanael Greene

Date of birth/date of death: b. August 7 1742; d. June 19 1786.

1778 – 1780

Brigadier General Thomas Sidney Jesup

Date of birth/date of death: b. December 16 1788; d. June 10 1860.

1818 – 1860


Regional United States Army Commands

Commanding General of the United States Army Europe
Lieutenant General Dwight David Eisenhower

Date of birth/date of death: b. October 14 1890; d. March 28 1969

Military ranks: Promoted to Brigadier General, 1941. Promoted to Major General, 1942. Promoted to Lieutenant General, 1942. Promoted to General, 1943. Promoted to General of the Army, 1944.

1942 – 1943

General of the Army Dwight David Eisenhower

Date of birth/date of death: b. October 14 1890; d. March 28 1969

Military ranks: Promoted to Brigadier General, 1941. Promoted to Major General, 1942. Promoted to Lieutenant General, 1942. Promoted to General, 1943. Promoted to General of the Army, 1944.

1944 – 1945


Individual United States Army Commands

Commanding General First United States Army
Lieutenant General Omar Nelson Bradley

Date of birth/date of death: b. February 12 1893; d. April 8 1981

Military ranks: Promoted to Brigadier General, 1941. Promoted to Major General, 1942. Promoted to Lieutenant General, 1943. Promoted to General, 1945. Promoted to General of the Army, 1950.

1943 – 1944

Lieutenant General Walter Bedell “Beetle” Smith

Date of birth/date of death: b. October 5 1895; d. August 9 1961

Military ranks: Promoted to Brigadier General, 1942. Promoted to Major General, 1942. Promoted to Lieutenant General, 1944. Promoted to General, 1951.

1949 – 1950


Commanding General Third United States Army
Lieutenant General George Smith Patton, Jr.

Date of birth/date of death: b. November 11 1885; d. December 21 1945

Military ranks: Promoted to Brigadier General, 1940. Promoted to Major General, 1941. Promoted to Lieutenant General, 1943. Promoted to General, 1945.

1944 – 1945

Lieutenant General Lucian King Truscott, Jr.

Date of birth/date of death: b. November 11 1885; d. December 21 1945

Military ranks: Promoted to Brigadier General, 1942. Promoted to Major General, 1942. Promoted to Lieutenant General, 1944. Promoted to General, 1954.

1945 – 1946

Lieutenant General Tommy Ray Franks

Date of birth/date of death: b. June 17 1945.

1997 – 2000


Commanding General Fourth United States Army
Major General John Porter Lucas

Date of birth/date of death: b. January 14 1890; d. December 24 1949

Military ranks: Promoted to Brigadier General, 1940. Promoted to Major General, 1941.

1944 – 1945


Commanding General Fifth United States Army
Lieutenant General Mark Wayne Clark

Date of birth/date of death: b. May 1 1896; d. April 17 1984

Military ranks: Promoted to Brigadier General, 1941. Promoted to Major General, 1942. Promoted to Lieutenant General, 1942. Promoted to General, 1945.

1943 – 1944

Lieutenant General Lucian King Truscott, Jr.

Date of birth/date of death: b. November 11 1885; d. December 21 1945

Military ranks: Promoted to Brigadier General, 1942. Promoted to Major General, 1942. Promoted to Lieutenant General, 1944. Promoted to General, 1954.

1944 – 1945


Commanding General Sixth United States Army
General Joseph Warren “Vinegar Joe” Stilwell

Date of birth/date of death: b. March 19 1883; d. October 12 1946

Military ranks: Promoted to Brigadier General, 1939. Promoted to Major General, 1940. Promoted to Lieutenant General, 1942. Promoted to General, 1944.

1946

General Mark Wayne Clark

Date of birth/date of death: b. May 1 1896; d. April 17 1984

Military ranks: Promoted to Brigadier General, 1941. Promoted to Major General, 1942. Promoted to Lieutenant General, 1942. Promoted to General, 1945.

1947 – 1949


Commanding General Seventh United States Army
Lieutenant General George Smith Patton, Jr.

Date of birth/date of death: b. November 11 1885; d. December 21 1945

Military ranks: Promoted to Brigadier General, 1940. Promoted to Major General, 1941. Promoted to Lieutenant General, 1943. Promoted to General, 1945.

1943 – 1944


Commanding General Tenth United States Army
General Joseph Warren “Vinegar Joe” Stilwell

Date of birth/date of death: b. March 19 1883; d. October 12 1946

Military ranks: Promoted to Brigadier General, 1939. Promoted to Major General, 1940. Promoted to Lieutenant General, 1942. Promoted to General, 1944.

1945 – 1946


Commanding General Fifteenth United States Army
Lieutenant General Lucian King Truscott, Jr.

Date of birth/date of death: b. November 11 1885; d. December 21 1945

Military ranks: Promoted to Brigadier General, 1942. Promoted to Major General, 1942. Promoted to Lieutenant General, 1944. Promoted to General, 1954.

1944

General George Smith Patton, Jr.

Date of birth/date of death: b. November 11 1885; d. December 21 1945

Military ranks: Promoted to Brigadier General, 1940. Promoted to Major General, 1941. Promoted to Lieutenant General, 1943. Promoted to General, 1945.

1945


Commander of the Army of the Cumberland
Major General William Starke Rosecrans

Date of birth/date of death: b. September 6 1819; d. March 11 1898.

1862 – 1863

Major General George Henry Thomas

Date of birth/date of death: b. July 31 1816; d. March 28 1870.

1863 – 1865


Commander of the Army of the James
Major General Benjamin Franklin Butler

Date of birth/date of death: b. November 5 1818; d. January 11 1893.

1864 – 1865


Commander of the Army of the Mississippi
Major General William Starke Rosecrans

Date of birth/date of death: b. September 6 1819; d. March 11 1898.

1862


Commander of the Military Division of the Missouri
Major General William Tecumseh Sherman

Date of birth/date of death: b. February 8 1820; d. February 14 1891.

1865 – 1869


Commander of the Army of the Ohio
Major General Don Carlos Buell

Date of birth/date of death: b. March 23 1818; d. November 19 1898.

1861 – 1862


Commander of the Army of Northeastern Virginia
Major General Irvin McDowell

Date of birth/date of death: b. October 15 1818; d. May 4 1885.

1861

Commander of the Army of the Potomac
Major General George Brinton McClellan

Date of birth/date of death: b. December 3 1826; d. October 29 1885.

1861 – 1862

Major General Ambrose Everts Burnside

Date of birth/date of death: b. May 23 1824; d. September 13 1881.

1862 – 1863

Major General Joseph Hooker

Date of birth/date of death: b. November 13 1814; d. October 31 1879.

1863

Major General George Gordon Meade

Date of birth/date of death: b. December 31 1815; d. November 6 1872.

1863 – 1865


Commander of the Army of the Tennessee
Major General William Tecumseh Sherman

Date of birth/date of death: b. February 8 1820; d. February 14 1891.

1863 – 1864




United States Navy

Chief of Naval Operations
Admiral William Shepherd Benson

Date of birth/date of death: b. September 25 1855; d. May 20 1932.

1915 – 1919


Regional Posts

Commander of the East India Squadron
Commodore Matthew Calbraith Perry

Date of birth/date of death: b. April 10 1794; d. March 4 1858.

1852 – 1854

Commander of the Asiatic Squadron
Rear Admiral John Rodgers

Date of birth/date of death: b. August 8 1812; d. May 5 1882.

1870 – 1872