Peyton Conway March (December 27, 1864 - April 13, 1955) was an American soldier and Army Chief of Staff. March was born in Easton, Pennsylvania and attended Lafayette College. In 1884, he was appointed to West Point and graduated in 1888. He was assigned to the 3rd Artillery. December 27 is the 361st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1864 was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... 13 April is the 103rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (104th in leap years). ... 1955 (MCMLV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Easton is a city located in Northampton County, Pennsylvania. ... Lafayette College, located in Easton, Pennsylvania in Pennsylvanias Lehigh Valley, is an independent, undergraduate, coeducational, residential institution. ... Alternate meanings: West Point (disambiguation). ...

He married Josephine Smith Cunningham (d. 1904) in 1891. They had a son, Peyton, Jr. (b. 1896). Peyton Conway March, Jr. ...

In 1894, March was assigned to the 5th Artillery and promoted to 1st lieutenant. He was sent to the Artillery School in 1896. He organized the Astor Battery and was sent to the Philippines in the Spanish-American War. In 1899, March was the aide to Gen. Arthur MacArthur, Jr.. Later that year he was promoted to major. He continued to serve in the Philippines, and was a provincial governor and commissary of prisoners. Combatants United States Spain Commanders {{{commander1}}} {{{commander2}}} Strength {{{strength1}}} {{{strength2}}} Casualties 2,446 combat dead or wounded 5,500 combat dead or wounded {{Campaignbox {{{campaign}}}}} The Spanish-American War took place in 1898, and resulted in the United States of America gaining control over the former colonies of Spain in... Arthur MacArthur, Jr. ...

In 1903 he was sent to Fort Riley and commanded the 19th Battery of the field artillery. Later that year he was sent to Washington, DC and served on the newly created General Staff. He was sent as an observer during the Russo-Japanese War. Fort Riley is a census-designated place and United States Army post, in Northeast Kansas, on the Kansas River. ... Aerial photo (looking NW) of the Washington Monument and the White House in Washington, DC. Washington, D.C., officially the District of Columbia (also known as D.C.; Washington; the Nations Capital; the District; and, historically, the Federal City) is the capital city and administrative district of the United... A General Staff is a group of professional military officers who act in a staff or administrative role under the command of a general officer. ... Greater Manchuria, Russian (outer) Manchuria is region to upper right in lighter Red; Liaodong Peninsula is the wedge extending into the Yellow Sea The Russo-Japanese War (1904–1905) was an extremely bloody conflict that grew out of the rival imperialist ambitions of Russia and Japan in Manchuria and Korea. ...

In 1907, March commanded the 1st Artillery Battalion, 6th Field Artillery. March then served as adjutant of Fort Riley, then served as adjutant at several other commands, including at the War Department. An adjutant (from the Latin adiutor, itself from the verb adiutare, to help) is an officer who assists a more senior officer. ...

In 1916, he was promoted to colonel and commanded the 8th Field Artillery on the Mexican border.

During World War I, March was promoted to brigadier general and commanded the 1st Field Artillery Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, American Expeditionary Forces. Later that year, he was promoted to major general and commanded the artillery units of the First Army and all non-divisional artillery units. World War I was primarily a European conflict with many facets: immense human sacrifice, stalemate trench warfare, and the use of new, devastating weapons - tanks, aircraft, machine guns, and poison gas. ...

In March 1918, he was recalled to Washington and was Army Chief of Staff. He was promoted to temporary general.

He served as Chief of Staff until 1921. As Chief of Staff he reorganized the Army structure, and abolished the distinctions between the Regular Army, the Army Reserves, and the National Guard during war time. He created new technical branches in the service including the Air Corps, Chemical Warfare Corps, Transportation Corps, and Tank Corps. He also centralized control over supply. After the war ended, he supervised the demobilization of the Army. As Chief of Staff he often came into disagreement with Gen. John J. Pershing, who wanted to conduct the AEF as a independent command. General John Pershing John Joseph Black Jack Pershing (September 13, 1860 – July 15, 1948) was an officer in the United States Army. ...

March retired as a major general in 1921.

In 1923, he married Cora V. McEntee.

In June 1930, March was advanced to general on the retired list.

March died in 1955 and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Arlington Cemetery Arlington National Cemetery, in Arlington, Virginia, is an American military cemetery established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Robert E. Lees home. ...

Awards and decorations

• Distinguished Service Cross
• Distinguished Service Medal
• Silver Star with four Oak Leaf Clusters
• Mexican Border Service Medal
• Philippine Campaign Medal
• World War I Victory Medal
• Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (UK)
• Grand Officier Légion d'honneur (France)
• Grand Cross Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus (Italy)
• Grand Cordon Order of the Rising Sun (Japan)
• Grand Cross Order of George I (Greece)
• Grand Cordon Order of the Crown (Belgium)
• Polonia Restituta 1st Class (Poland)
• War Cross (Czechoslovakia)