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Irving Hale

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Irving Hale
Birth nameHorace Irving Hale[1]
Born(1861-08-28)August 28, 1861
North Bloomfield, Ontario County, New York
DiedJuly 26, 1930(1930-07-26) (aged 68)
Denver, Colorado
Buried
Fairmount Cemetery
Allegiance United States of America
Service / branch United States Army
Years of service1884–1890
1897–1899
RankBrigadier General
Commands1st Colorado Volunteer Infantry
Battles / wars
AwardsSilver Star
Other workElectrical engineer
Signature

Irving Hale (August 28, 1861 – July 26, 1930) was a brigadier general of the United States of America who served in the Philippines during the Spanish–American War and the early stages of the Philippine–American War.

Biography

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Born in New York, Hale was the son of Horace M. Hale, a teacher who later became the second president of the University of Colorado. Hale's family moved to Colorado in 1865. He graduated at the head of the first class from Denver East High School in 1877.[2] He enrolled at West Point in July 1880, and graduated at the head of his class four years later.[3] His final score was 2070.4 points out of a possible 2075, which is the highest-ever score from the military academy.[2]

Hale pursued studies in electrical engineering following his commission as a second lieutenant. In September 1886, he was promoted to first lieutenant. From November 1887 to August 1888, Hale taught military photography at the Engineer School of Application.[3] In September 1888, he won a gold medal for rifle marksmanship in the U.S. Army competition at Fort Niagara, New York.[2] From September 1888 to August 1889, Hale was an assistant professor of civil and military engineering at the U.S. Military Academy.[3]

In September 1889, he took a leave of absence to supervise the construction of the South Broadway line in Denver, Colorado, creating the first successful electric railway there. On April 1, 1890, Hale resigned from the regular army to take a position with General Electric.[2] In 1895, he was awarded the honorary degree of electrical engineer by the Colorado State School of Mines.[4]

Still living in Denver, Hale joined the state militia in May 1897 as lieutenant colonel in the 1st Infantry Regiment, Colorado National Guard.[5] In October 1897, he was promoted to colonel by Governor Alva Adams and given command of the regiment.[6] In December 1897, Hale was promoted to brigadier general in the National Guard.[7]

The First Colorado, like many other state militias, was sworn into service at the beginning of the Spanish–American War in April 1898, with Hale as colonel of U.S. Volunteers in command. The Colorados were sent to the Philippines, along with other militias from western states. The First Colorado secured the American left flank during the Battle of Manila, capturing Fort San Agustin, and raising the first American flag over the city's fortifications; his excellent leadership secured Hale a promotion to the rank of brigadier general of volunteers in command of the 2d Brigade, 2d Division, Eighth Army Corps.

During the Philippine–American War, Hale led troops into battle on several occasions, and was wounded while scouting an enemy position during the battle of Meycauayan on March 26, 1899. He later received a Silver Star for his leadership near Calumpit on April 25, 1899.[8] Hale was also awarded an honorary LL.D. degree by the University of Colorado in 1899.[4]

Though offered a position in the new volunteer army, Hale decided to return home with the state militias in the fall and was honorably mustered out on October 1, 1899, returning to his civilian career as an electrical engineer. Following the war, he was active as one of the founders of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.[9][8]

Personal

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On June 14, 1887, Hale married Mary Virginia King in Willet's Point, New York.[10] Her father was William Rice King, an Army engineer and 1863 West Point graduate.[11] Hale and his wife had three sons and three daughters.[10]

On September 29, 1911, Hale suffered a paralytic stroke from which he never fully recovered. He died on July 26, 1930, in Denver, and is buried in Denver's Fairmount Cemetery. The neighborhood of Hale, Denver is named for him. In addition, a prominent plaque in his honor was placed on the south side of the Colorado State Capitol Building, in Denver.[12]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "List of Cadets, United States Military Academy, West Point, New York, From its Origin till June 30, 1937". U.S. Military Academy Printing Office. 1937. p. 61. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d Byers, William N. (1901). "Irving Hale". Encyclopedia of Biography of Colorado: History of Colorado. Vol. I. Chicago, Illinois: The Century Publishing and Engraving Company. pp. 469–471. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  3. ^ a b c Biographical register of the officers and graduates of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. from its establishment in 1802, to 1890: With the early history of the United States Military Academy. Vol. III. The Riverside Press. 1891. pp. 376–377. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  4. ^ a b Biographical register of the officers and graduates of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York since its establishment in 1802: Supplement, 1890–1900. Vol. IV. The Riverside Press. 1901. pp. 384–385. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  5. ^ "Militia Reorganization: Colonels Draper and McCoy Will Lead the Battalions". The Daily News. Denver, Colorado. May 2, 1897. p. 2. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  6. ^ "In National Guard Circles: Irving Hale Becomes Colonel of the First Regiment". Pueblo Daily Chieftain. October 25, 1897. p. 5. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  7. ^ "Now He Is Called General Hale: Colonel of the First Regiment Is Appointed to Succeed General Brooks". The Daily News. Denver, Colorado. December 19, 1897. p. 9. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  8. ^ a b Biographical register of the officers and graduates of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York since its establishment in 1802: Supplement, 1920–1930. Vol. VII. R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company, The Lakeside Press. March 1931. p. 209. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  9. ^ "About". VFW Post 1. Retrieved 2024-03-06.
  10. ^ a b The Huntington Family in America: A Genealogical Memoir of the Known Descendants of Simon Huntington from 1633 to 1915, Including Those who Have Retained the Family Name, and Many Bearing Other Surnames. Hartford, Connecticut: Huntington Family Association. 1915. pp. 1004–1005. ISBN 978-0-608-31918-6. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  11. ^ Hale, Irving (1898). "William R. King". Twenty-Ninth Annual Reunion of the Association of the Graduates of the United States Military Academy, at West Point, New York, June 9th, 1898. Saginaw, Michigan: Seemann & Peters, Printers and Binders. pp. 81–83. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  12. ^ "Irving Hale. Scholar, Soldiers, Citizen". The Historical Marker Database. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
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