William Francis Lynch

William Francis Lynch (12 March 1839 – 28 December 1876) was an American Civil War veteran who attained the rank of brigadier general in the United States Army. A native of Rochester, New York, he was raised in Elgin, Illinois and attended the University of Notre Dame, where he took part in the school's corps of cadets program.

Lynch served in the Union Army from 1861 to 1865 and while still in his early twenties attained the rank of colonel as commander of the 58th Illinois Infantry Regiment. He received promotion to brigadier general by brevet in January 1865 to recognize his commendable service, and he was mustered out in February 1865.

In July 1866, Lynch was commissioned as a first lieutenant in the regular army and assigned to the 42nd Infantry Regiment. On 2 March 1867, he received brevet promotions to major and lieutenant colonel, and he was promoted to captain on 20 March 1867. On 15 December 1870, Lynch was promoted to brigadier general in the regular army and he retired on the same day. He died at Fort Larned, Kansas on 28 December 1876.

Early life William F. Lynch was born in Rochester, New York on 12 March 1839, a son of Timothy Lynch and Katherine (Hogan) Lynch. He was raised and educated in Cuba, New York until age four, when his family settled in Elgin, Illinois. He graduated from Elgin Academy, then attended the University of Notre Dame, where he organized a military drill and ceremony company, the Continental Cadets, for which he provided instruction based on techniques he learned from Elmer E. Ellsworth while serving in a volunteer company, the Elgin Continentals.

The start of the American Civil War in April 1861 caused Lynch and his fellow cadets to volunteer for Union Army service, but parental objections from several caused Oliver P. Morton, the governor of Indiana to decline the offer. Lynch visited President Ulysses S. Grant a few days later, after which his reduction in rank was reversed. He moved to Kansas shortly before his death and died at Fort Larned on 28 December 1876. Lynch was buried at Bluff City Cemetery in Elgin.

Dates of rank Lynch's dates of rank were:

Sergeant Major (United States Volunteers), 18 June 1861 Colonel (United States Volunteers), 25 January 1862 to 7 February 1865 Brigadier General (Brevet), 31 January 1865 First Lieutenant, 28 July 1866 Major (Brevet), 2 March 1867 Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet), 2 March 1867 Captain, 20 March 1867 Brigadier General, 15 December 1870 Brigadier General (Retired), 15 December 1870