Francis Vinton Greene

• Name — Francis Vinton Greene • Born — 27 June 1850 • Died — 15 May 1921 • Birthplace — Providence, Rhode Island, U.S. • Place of death — New York, New York, U.S. • Education — U.S. Military Academy • Allegiance — United States • Service Years — 1870–1886, 1898–1899 • Rank — Major General • Unit — 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, VIII Corps • Battles — * Spanish–American War • Battle of Manila • Relations — George S. Greene (father) Samuel Dana Greene (brother) • Other Work — War Department attaché, Professor of Artillery at West Point, New York City Police Commissioner

Greene was born in Providence, Rhode Island, on June 27, 1850, a son of George S. Greene and Elizabeth (Vinton) Greene. Army officer David Hammond Vinton was his uncle. He attended the United States Military Academy at West Point and graduated in 1870, first in his class. He first served in the U.S. artillery and then transferred to the Corps of Engineers in 1872. He next served as an attaché from the War Department to the U.S. legation in St. Petersburg, Russia. While there he served in the Russian army during its war with Turkey. He was promoted to first lieutenant in 1874 and captain in 1883. He returned to the U.S. and was a civil engineer to the city of Washington, D.C., and was an instructor of practical military engineering at West Point before resigning from the Army on December 31, 1886. He published multiple articles on the development of modern warfare and U.S. military policy. After leaving the Army, Greene became president of the Barber Asphalt Paving Company, joining the New York National Guard on December 18, 1889, as a major and serving as 1st Brigade engineer. He was elected colonel of the 71st New York Infantry Regiment on February 2, 1892. When the Spanish–American War broke out he raised the 71st New York Volunteer Infantry and was commissioned as its colonel on May 2, 1898. He was quickly promoted to brigadier general of Volunteers on May 27, 1898. He commanded the second Philippine Expeditionary Force which became the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, VIII Corps. Greene took a prominent part in the Battle of Manila in 1898. He assisted in the surrender negotiations for Manila. In August 1898 he was promoted major general of Volunteers and resigned on February 28, 1899. During his service, he was put in charge of the finances of the preliminary Philippine administration. In September 1898, he briefed President McKinley on the Philippine situation and recommended the annexation of the entire archipelago. He wrote to William R. Day and William McKinley that he and Admiral Dewey agreed that the Philippines should not be divided, and it would be much better to hold the islands as one. He expected British agreement. After the war, he pursued a variety of occupations. He was a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1900. He served as the New York City Police Commissioner from 1903 to 1904. He was president of the Niagara-Lockport and Ontario Power Company, along with other business ventures with Buffalo businessman John J. Albright. Greene died on May 15, 1921, at his home on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, New York City. He was interred at Arlington National Cemetery.

• Insignia — Rank — Date — Component • No insignia — Cadet, USMA — September 1, 1866 — Regular Army • — Second Lieutenant — June 15, 1870 — Regular Army (Artillery) • — Second Lieutenant — June 10, 1872 — Regular Army (Engineers) • — First Lieutenant — January 13, 1874 — Regular Army (Engineers) • — Captain — February 20, 1883 — Regular Army (Engineers) • — Major — December 18, 1889 — New York National Guard • — Colonel — February 2, 1892 — New York National Guard • — Colonel — May 2, 1898 — Volunteers • — Brigadier General — May 27, 1898 — Volunteers • — Major General — August 13, 1898 — Volunteers