Robert Powell Page Wainwright
Major, U.S. Army

Robert Powell Page Wainwright was born on 18 May 1852 in Philadelphia, PA.

Wainwright was a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy, Class of 1875. He began his career as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. 1st Cavalry in 1875. Captain Wainwright contributed the chapter, "The First Regiment of Cavalry," to The Army of the United States: Historical Sketches of Staff and Line with Portraits of Generals-in-Chief published in 1896.

During the next two decades he served throughout the frontier at several posts leading his troops through skirmishes and scouting patrols. Later he commanded a cavalry squadron at the Battle of Santiago de Cuba during the Spanish-American War. He died in 1902 while on active duty stationed in the Philippines.

Family

He was married to Josephine Serrell and had three children, Helen Serrell Wainwright, Jennie Pound Serrell Wainwright and Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright IV.

Robert Wainwright was part of a family with strong military tradition. His wife's father was General Edward W. Serrell. Wainwright's son, Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright IV, was the commander of American and Filipino forces during the Battle of the Philippines (1941-42). Ft. Wainwright, AK, is named in his honor. Robert Wainwright's father was Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright II, a U.S. Navy officer who was killed during the American Civil War. Jonathan Wainwright, Jr., Major Wainwright's brother, was a U.S. Navy officer who was killed in battle in 1870 while fighting pirates off the west coast of Mexico.

Death and Burial

Major Robert Powell Page Wainwright died on 19 November 1902 in Manila. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA.