William J. Glasgow

William J. Glasgow (18 May 1866 – 4 August 1967) was a career officer in the United States Army. A veteran of the Spanish–American War, Military Government of Cuba, Philippine–American War, Mexican Border War, and World War I, he commanded Cavalry and Infantry units and attained the rank of brigadier general.

A native of St. Louis, Glasgow was raised and educated in St. Louis and was an 1891 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point. Assigned to the Cavalry, he served with Cavalry regiments at the start of his career, and during the late 1890s and early 1900s he was frequently assigned as aide-de-camp to brigade and division commanders. During the First World War, he commanded an infantry brigade and a depot brigade as a temporary brigadier general, after which he took part in a post-war observation and inspection tour of battlefields in France.

After World War I, Glasgow graduated from the United States Army Command and General Staff College and United States Army War College, and commanded the 3rd Cavalry Regiment and the post at Fort Myer, Virginia. In March 1927 he was promoted to permanent brigadier general, and he retired in May. After his military retirement, he was director of personnel for a copper refinery in El Paso, Texas. Glasgow died in El Paso on 4 August 1967 and was buried at Fort Bliss National Cemetery.

Early life William Jefferson Glasgow was born in St. Louis, Missouri on 18 May 1866, the son of Edward J. Glasgow and Harrier (Clark) Glasgow. He was raised and educated in St. Louis and attended the academy at Washington University in St. Louis, after which he attended the university. In June 1887, he competed for an appointment to the United States Military Academy offered by Congressman John Milton Glover; he finished first among 12 applicants and began attending later that year. Glasgow graduated in 1891 ranked 30th of 65. Among his classmates who did not attain general officer rank was Spencer Cosby. He served at Fort Bayard, New Mexico from April 1892 to May 1895. They were married until his death and were the parents of five children.

Start of career The Spanish–American War began in April 1898, and Glasgow served with the 1st Cavalry at Chickamauga Park, Georgia and Lakeland, Florida until August 1898. He was next assigned to the office of the Chief of Staff of the United States Army in Washington, D.C. In March 1915, he was assigned to attend the officers' course at the Fort Riley Mounted Service School; he graduated in June and resumed command of his squadron. From 1928 until 1941, he served as director of personnel for the Nichols Copper Refinery. From 1964 until his death, Glasgow was the oldest living West Point graduate. He died in El Paso on 4 August 1967 and was buried at Fort Bliss National Cemetery.