- born near Laclede, Missouri, on 13 September 1860
- attended the State Normal School, then graduated from the United States Military Academy, 1886
- was commissioned a second lieutenant and assigned to the 6th Cavalry, July 1886
- performed garrison and field duties in the Southwest and Northern Plains, 1886-1890, and participated in the Wounded Knee campaign
- was professor of military science and tactics at University of Nebraska, 1891-1895, studying law concurrently and receiving his degree, 1893
- was promoted to first lieutenant and assigned to the 10th Cavalry, October 1892
- served in Montana, 1895-1896
- after a brief tour at Army headquarters, was assistant instructor in tactics at West Point, 1897-1898
- served with the 10th in Cuba, including operations at San Juan Hill
- was promoted to major of volunteers, detailed in ordnance, and assigned to Army headquarters and the Office of the Assistant Secretary of War, 1898-1899, where he organized a Bureau of Insular Affairs
- was reverted to a regular captaincy, June 1901, and assigned successively to the 1st and 10th Cavalry
- served in the Philippines as a departmental adjutant general and engineer officer, collector of customs, and cavalry squadron commander, participating in actions against Moros, 1899-1903
- served on the War Department General Staff, 1903-1904, and as assistant chief of staff of the Southwestern Division, 1904
- attended the Army War College, 1904-1905
- married Frances Warren, 1905
- was military attache to Japan and an observer of the Russo-Japanese War, 1905-1906
- at President Roosevelt's nomination, was promoted to brigadier general over 862 senior-ranking officers, September 1906
- commanded the Department of California, 1906, and Fort McKinley, 1907-1908; was assigned to the Office of the Chief of Staff, 1908-1909
- was governor of Moro Province and commander, Department of Mindanao, 1909-1913
- commanded the 8th Infantry Brigade at the Presidio of San Francisco, 1914-1916, where in 1915 he lost his wife and three daughters in a fire
- led the Mexican Punitive Expedition, 1916-1917, receiving promotion to major general during the campaign
- was promoted to general, October 1917
- commanded the American Expeditionary Forces in France in World War I, 1917-1919
- was advanced to the rank of General of the Armies, September 1919
- moved his headquarters to Washington, prepared a report on the war, and made an extended tour of military inspection, 1919-1921
- was Chief of Staff of the United States Army, 1 July 1921-13 September 1924
- established the War Plans Board
- pressed for national preparedness, a strong Army, increased efficiency and economy, officer schooling, and a well-regulated militia
- retired from active service, September 1924
- was chairman of the American Battle Monuments Commission, 1923-1948, and headed the Tacna-Arica Boundary Commission, 1925-1926
- died in Washington, D.C., on 15 July 1948
Taken from: COMMANDING GENERALS AND CHIEFS OF STAFF, 1775-1982, William Gardner Bell, Center of Military History, United States Army, Washington, D.C., 1983