Joseph Hooker
1814–1879
Source: Library of Congress
Biography
Joseph Hooker was a prominent Union general during the American Civil War, known for his aggressive tactics and colorful personality. Rising through the ranks during the Mexican-American War, Hooker earned a reputation as a skilled battlefield commander. He served in various capacities throughout the Civil War, most notably as commander of the Army of the Potomac, where he reorganized the cavalry corps and improved morale, though his tenure was marked by the controversial defeat at Chancellorsville in 1863.