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Portrait of Winfield Scott

Winfield Scott

Winfield Scott, the longest-serving general in U.S. Army history, was born in Dinwiddie County, Virginia.

Profession
General
From
Dinwiddie County, Virginia
Born
June 13, 1786
Years active
1808–1861

Early life

Born near Petersburg in 1786, Scott entered the army as a young officer and won fame in the War of 1812.

Career

Known as "Old Fuss and Feathers," he commanded U.S. forces to victory in the Mexican–American War and devised the Anaconda Plan at the outset of the Civil War.

Major achievements

He served on active duty for over half a century and was the 1852 Whig candidate for president.

Legacy

Scott is regarded as one of the most accomplished American commanders of the nineteenth century.

References

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