Abner Doubleday
Union Army general
Abner Doubleday Rank
About Abner Doubleday
Abner Doubleday, a United States Army officer and Union major general during the American Civil War, is best known for being the first soldier to shoot fire in defense of Fort Sumter against Confederate rebels.
Family and Background
Doubleday was born in Ballston Spa, New York, to Ulysses F. Doubleday and Hester Donnelly. He attended school in Auburn and Cooperstown, New York, and was admitted as a cadet to the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1838.
Career
He served in the Mexican-American War (1846-1848) as an artillery officer and later in the Third Seminole War in Florida (1856–58). He commanded the gunners who fired the first shots fired by the North in the American Civil War at Fort Sumter, South Carolina. He fought at the Second Battle of Bull Run, Fredericksburg, and Gettysburg. In 1862–63, he held the temporary rank of major general of volunteers, and was promoted to colonel in 1867.
General George Meade relieved him of command, but he still commanded a division on some days of the battle. In the aftermath of Pickett's Charge, he was wounded in the neck by a shell fragment.
Death
He retired to New Jersey, and died in 1893 of heart disease.
Did you know?
In 1907, the Mills Commission, with a mandate from the National League, ruled that Abner Doubleday was the inventor of baseball. There are some baseball historians that beg to differ though.
He was a high ranking member and later president of the Theosophical Society. He even served as the president of the organization for some time.
Abner Doubleday Rank
F.A.Q. about Abner Doubleday
When is his birthday?
Abner Doubleday's birthday is on June 26, 1819.
In how many days is his birthday?
Abner's birthday is in 91 days
How old was Abner when he died?
He was 73 years old.
When did he die?
He died in January 26, 1893.
How old would he be today?
Abner Doubleday would be 204 years old if he was alive today.
Where was Abner from?
He was born in Ballston Spa, New York, U.S..