Russell Alexander Alger

Russell Alexander Alger was an American politician, businessman, and Civil War general born in Ohio, orphaned young, who rose to become a lawyer, lumber magnate, the 20th governor of Michigan (1885-1887), U.S. Secretary of War (1897-1899), and U.S. Senator from Michigan (1902-1907). He served with distinction in the Union Army, achieving the rank of major general, and later amassed wealth in Michigan's lumber industry. His tenure as Secretary of War during the Spanish-American War was criticized for incompetence, leading to his resignation.