James R. Lindsay

James Robert Lindsay (August 12, 1865 – April 25, 1940) was a career officer in the United States Army. An 1890 graduate of the United States Military Academy, he was a veteran of the Spanish–American War, Philippine–American War, United States occupation of Veracruz, and World War I. During the First World War, Lindsay was promoted to brigadier general as commander of the 97th Division at Camp Cody, New Mexico. After the war, he was commissioned as a brigadier general in the Organized Reserve Corps and served as Professor of Military Science and Tactics at Kentucky's Louisville Male High School.

Early life James R. Lindsay was born in Olney, Illinois on August 12, 1865, a son of Milton C. Lindsay (1839–1870) and Melissa Ann (Springer) Lindsay Berninger (1839–1928). He was raised and educated in Richland County, Illinois and received his certification as a school teacher.

Lindsay was a teacher and principal for several years, including at schools in Claremont and Calhoun, and in 1886 he received an appointment to the United States Military Academy from U.S. Representative Silas Z. Landes.

Start of career From October 1890 to April 1894, Lindsay served with the 14th Infantry Regiment at Vancouver Barracks, Washington, including detached service as recruiting officer at Port Townsend, Washington from June to August 1891. After returning to the United States, Lindsay performed recruiting duty at Columbus Barracks, Ohio until November 1899. He served with the 28th Infantry at Fort Sam Houston, Texas from August to November 1911, and at Fort Snelling, Minnesota from November 1911 to January 1913. Lindsay was promoted to permanent colonel in January 1918. Lindsay retired in October 1920, but remained in active service to perform recruiting duties. In April 1921, he and two other officers were assigned to Johns Hopkins University, where they pursued study of methods for training Reserve Officers' Training Corps students.

Retirement and death In June 1921, Lindsay retired again and moved to Louisville, Kentucky, where he became Professor of Military Science and Tactics at the Louisville Male High School. In December 1921, he was commissioned as a brigadier general in the Organized Reserve Corps. In June 1930, the U.S. Congress enacted legislation permitting the general officers of World War I to retire at their highest rank, and Lindsay was promoted to brigadier general on the army's retired list.

Lindsay retired from the military and his teaching position in 1932, and continued to reside in Louisville. He died in Louisville on April 25, 1940. Lindsay was buried at Arlington National Cemetery. They were the parents of two sons, John R. Lindsay Jr. (1899–1945) and Gregg M. Lindsay (1901–1934), both of whom served in the army.