Eben Eveleth Winslow

Eben Eveleth Winslow (May 13, 1866 – June 28, 1928) was a career officer in the United States Army. He graduated from the United States Military Academy ranked first in the Class of 1889, and served in the Army's Corps of Engineers. A veteran of the Spanish–American War and World War I, he attained the rank of brigadier general and was a recipient of the Army Distinguished Service Medal.

Early life Eben E. Winslow was born in Washington, D.C. on May 13, 1866, the son of Commander William Randolph Winslow, a paymaster in the United States Navy and Catherine (Eveleth) Winslow. Winslow's grandfather John Ancrum Winslow was a career navy officer and American Civil War veteran who attained the rank of rear admiral. His family was long prominent in New England; his ancestors included veterans of the American Revolutionary War, as well as Mayflower passenger Mary Chilton and her husband John Winslow, who arrived in Massachusetts aboard the ship Fortune a year after the Mayflower.

Winslow's father died in 1869 and he was raised by his mother in Washington, in addition to spending significant time at the home of his grandparents in Boston. and graduated from Washington's Columbian Preparatory School as valedictorian in 1883. During Winslow's high school years, Washington's high schools fielded a uniformed corps of cadets, which enabled students to take part in drill and ceremony competitions, and Winslow gained his initial military experience as a member.

In 1885, Winslow competed for an appointment to the United States Military Academy (West Point) offered by U.S. Representative Ambrose Ranney of Boston. He finished first on the examination, received the appointment, and attended West Point from 1885 to 1889.

Start of career Winslow was initially assigned to Company B of the Battalion of Engineers, which was stationed with the Engineer School at Fort Totten, New York. He served with Company B until May 1892, when he was assigned to construct and improve river and harbor defenses at the Port of Mobile, Alabama. In May 1903, he was posted to Norfolk, Virginia as commander of river and harbor fortifications construction.

Later career Following the end of the war, Winslow returned to his permanent rank of colonel. In July 1919, Winslow was assigned to command the coastal fortifications of San Francisco Bay. In 1930, the U.S. Congress passed legislation allowing the general officers of World War I to retire at their highest rank and Winslow was posthumously promoted to brigadier general on the retired list. They were the parents of two children, William and Mary.

William Randolph Winslow (1901–1945) was a career army officer who served in World War I and World War II, and was the husband of Marcella Comès Winslow. Mary Winslow Chapman (1903–1995) was a Raleigh author and real estate developer, and was involved in the historic preservation of her family's Goodwinslow mansion.