Wallace, Lewis

Lewis (1827-1905), an American soldier and author. He was born at Brookville, Indiana, April 18, 1827. He died February 15, 1905. He studied law and was admitted to the bar. He went with an Indiana regiment to the Mexican War, having the rank of lieutenant. At the opening of the Civil War he was appointed adjutant-general for Indiana. He soon afterward entered the service as a colonel. He was engaged at Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, and Monocacy, and came out of the war with the rank of major-general of volunteers. He opened a law office in 1848 and resumed practice in 1865. In 1878-81 he was governor of New Mexico. During Garfield's administration he was minister to Turkey. "Lew Wallace," as he is familiarly called, has written several popular works, including Ben Hur: a Tale of the Christ, The Fair God, and The Prince of India. His reputation rests chiefly on Ben Hur. It is a powerful tale that few readers can afford to overlook. Robert Ingersoll is said to have suggested the theme to Wallace. In commemoration of his services to his state and country, a statue of General Wallace was placed in Statuary Hall in the capitol at Washington January 11, 1910. It represents him as clad in the uniform of a major-general of the United States army. See Santa Fe; Chariot