Wager Swayne
United States Army Medal of Honor recipient
Died when: 68 years 38 days (817 months)Star Sign: Scorpio
Wager Swayne (November 10, 1834 – December 18, 1902) was a Union Army colonel during the American Civil War and was appointed as the last major general of volunteers of the Union Army.
Swayne received America's highest military decoration the Medal of Honor for his actions at the Second Battle of Corinth.He also was effectively the military governor of Alabama from March 2, 1867 to July 14, 1868 after the passage of the first Reconstruction Act by the U.S.
Congress until Alabama was readmitted to the Union.Robert M.Patton remained the nominal governor during this period but as the local army commander, Swayne controlled the State government.
During the Reconstruction era, Swayne oversaw the Freedmen's Bureau in Alabama and helped establish schools for African Americans in the state.
He was the first person born after Alabama statehood, to govern the state.