1881 – 1940

Smedley Butler

United States Marine Corps general, two time Medal of Honor recipient, activist, lecturer, official, and writer (1881-1940)

activistlecturerofficialmilitary officerwriter

Born

1881-07-30, West Chester

Died

1940-06-21

Birthplace state

Pennsylvania

Biography

Smedley Butler was born in West Chester, Pennsylvania in 1881 and died in 1940. Over a 34-year military career as a Marine Corps officer, he saw action in the Philippine–American War, the Boxer Rebellion, the Mexican Revolution, World War I, and the Banana Wars. He received sixteen medals during his service, including five for heroism, the Marine Corps Brevet Medal, and two Medals of Honor for separate actions. Later in life, he worked as an anti-war advocate, lecturer, and writer.

Occupation

Smedley Butler is recorded as a activist, a lecturer, a official, a military officer and a writer, born in Pennsylvania (1881–1940).

Connections to Pennsylvania

Smedley Butler was born in West Chester, Pennsylvania in 1881. Explore other notable figures from Pennsylvania, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

Other notable figures from Pennsylvania›Pennsylvaniahistory ›Historic sites in Pennsylvania›

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Overview

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The Land

The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.

Geology

The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.

LiDAR Terrain

Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.

Conflict & War

The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.

The Civil War

The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.

The Soldiers

The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.

Native Heritage

The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.

Settlement

Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.

The Community

How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.

Rivers & Rail

The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.

Notable People

The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.

Historical Maps

Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.

Finds & Access

Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.

Literature

The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.

Spotlight

A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.

Points of Interest

The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.

Timeline

The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.

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More notable figures from Pennsylvania

Other historical figures born in Pennsylvania, ranked by historical prominence.

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Frequently asked about Smedley Butler

Who was Smedley Butler?

Smedley Butler was United States Marine Corps general, two time Medal of Honor recipient, activist, lecturer, official, and writer (1881-1940), born in Pennsylvania (1881 – 1940).

When and where was Smedley Butler born?

Smedley Butler was born on 1881-07-30 in West Chester.

When did Smedley Butler die?

Smedley died on 1940-06-21.

What was Smedley Butler known for?

Smedley Butler is recorded as a activist, a lecturer, a official, a military officer and a writer.

Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

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