In 1849 he was admitted to the bar in his native state and seven years later entered the state senate. During the Mexican War he served as a second lieutenant in the lst Indiana but saw only minor action. Born in Indiana, he had worked as a clerk and early displayed a fascination for Mexico which would affect him in later years. With the outbreak of the Civil War Lewis 'Lew' Wallace was a lawyer, governor, Union general in the American Civil War, American statesman, and author, best remembered for his historical novel Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ.Īlthough he would have much preferred to be remembered as a highly successful military hero, Lew Wallace has been thwarted in this ambition and is best known as an author. From Civil War Biography: Although he would have much preferred to be remembered as a highly successful military hero, Lew Wallace has been thwarted in this ambition and is best known as an author. Lewis 'Lew' Wallace was a lawyer, governor, Union general in the American Civil War, American statesman, and author, best remembered for his historical novel Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ.

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