born Nov. 13, 1814, Hadley, Mass., U.S.
died Oct. 31, 1879, Garden City, N.Y.
U.S. Army officer.
He attended West Point and served in the Mexican War . Appointed brigadier general of volunteers at the outbreak of the American Civil War , he participated in major campaigns and became known as "Fighting Joe." He succeeded Ambrose E. Burnside as commander of the Army of the Potomac after the disastrous Battle of Fredericksburg . He reorganized the army but failed to defeat Robert E. Lee at the Battle of Chancellorsville , incurring heavy Union casualties. He resigned just before the Battle of Gettysburg but later helped secure the Union victory at the Battle of Chattanooga .
Joseph Hooker
By courtesy of the Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.