Lew Wallace

Lewis "Lew" Wallace (April 10, 1827 – February 15, 1905) was a lawyer, governor, Union general in the American Civil War, U.S. statesman, and author, best remembered for his historical novel Ben-Hur.

Postwar career

Wallace, as a lawyer, participated in the trials of Lincoln assassination conspirators and of Henry Wirz, commandant of the Andersonville prison camp.

Related Topics:
Lincoln - Henry Wirz - Andersonville

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Wallace held a number of important political posts during the 1870s and 1880s. He served as Governor of New Mexico Territory from 1878 to 1881, and as U.S. Minister to Turkey from 1881 to 1885. As Governor he offered amnesty to many men involved in the Lincoln County War; in the process he met with Billy the Kid.

Related Topics:
1870s - 1880s - New Mexico Territory - 1878 - 1881 - Turkey - 1885 - Lincoln County War - Billy the Kid

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While serving as Governor, Wallace penned the novel that made him famous: ' (1880). It grew to be the best selling American novel of the 19th century. The book has never been out of print and has been filmed four times.

Related Topics:
1880 - 19th century

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Recently, historian Victor Davis Hanson has argued that the novel was based heavily on Wallace's own life, particularly his experiences at Shiloh and the damage it did to his reputation. There are some striking similarities: the book's main character, Judah Ben-Hur accidentally causes injury to a high-ranking commander, for which he (and his family) suffers no end of tribulations and calumny.

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Wallace died in Crawfordsville, Indiana, in 1905 and is buried in Oak Hill Cemetery.

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