Frank Herman Albright

Frank Herman Albright (August 2, 1865 – July 21, 1940) was a career officer in the United States Army. A veteran of the Spanish–American War, Philippine–American War, World War I, he attained the rank of brigadier general, and was most notable for his First World War command of the 151st Infantry Brigade and the 56th Infantry Brigade.

Early life Albright was born in Ottawa, Ohio on August 2, 1865, the son of William I. Albright and Mary (Shierlow) Albright. He entered the United States Military Academy and graduated 64th of 64 in the class of 1887. After graduating, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant of Infantry and assigned to the 12th Infantry Regiment at Fort Sully, Dakota Territory, and soon afterwards he was reassigned to Company G, 9th Infantry at Fort Bowie, Arizona.

Many of Rivers's classmates became general officers during the First World War, including Marcus Daniel Cronin, Alexander Lucian Dade, James Theodore Dean, Charles S. Farnsworth, George Washington Gatchell, Charles Gerhardt, Herman Hall, Thomas Grafton Hanson, Mark L. Hersey, Ernest Hinds, Michael Joseph Lenihan, Ulysses G. McAlexander, Nathaniel Fish McClure, William C. Rivers, George Owen Squier, Charles Brewster Wheeler, and Edmund Wittenmyer.

Start of career In 1888, Albright's regiment was posted to Fort Huachuca, Arizona. In 1891, the 9th Infantry was reassigned to Madison Barracks, New York. In 1895, Albright was promoted to first lieutenant and transferred to the 25th Infantry at Fort Buford, North Dakota. His subsequent assignments included Fort Assiniboine, Montana and professor of Military Science and Tactics at the University of North Dakota.

Spanish–American War At the start of the Spanish–American War in 1898, Albright inducted eight companies of the North Dakota National Guard and two South Dakota cavalry troops raised by Melvin Grigsby into the United States Volunteers. He led a company of North Dakota soldiers in Puerto Rico during the summer of 1898, then performed duty with the 11th Infantry Regiment. He remained in command until January 1903.

Albright died in San Diego on July 21, 1940. He was buried at Mount Hope Cemetery in San Diego.

Family In 1891, Albright married Minnie L. Scott (1865-1963). Her father Winfield Scott (chaplain) served in the Union Army during the American Civil War and was later chief chaplain of the Grand Army of the Republic. They were married until his death, and had no children.