Winfield Scott

Winfield Scott (1786–1866) was an American military commander who served as Commanding General of the United States Army from 1841 until his retirement in 1861. He is best known for leading American forces to victory in the Mexican-American War, devising the Anaconda Plan during the Civil War, and holding the rank of brevet lieutenant general — the first person to hold that rank since George Washington. He also ran as the Whig Party candidate for president in 1852, losing to Franklin Pierce. Scott died at West Point, New York, on May 29, 1866.