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Name:    Lyon, Nathaniel
Profession:  Politician
Born/Started:     Jul. 14, 1818
Died/Ended:     Aug. 10, 1861
Description:    Nathaniel Lyon was the commander of the St. Louis Arsenal at the start of the Civil War. Born in Ashford, CT in 1818, he attended West Point and fought in the Mexican-American War. He was ordered to St. Louis in 1861 and given command of the federal troops on March 13. On May 10 he lead the march on the pro-Confederate forces at Camp Jackson and forced them to surrender. Lyon became the commander of the Department of the West on May 31. He captured Jefferson City and Booneville from the Confederates in June. He was killed during the Battle of Wilson Creek on August 10, 1861. He left his entire estate ($300,000) to the U.S. government for the preservation of the Union.

Lyon Park was named for him. There is also a painting of the Battle of Wilson Creek by N.C. Wyeth in the Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City.



Structures & Places
Lyon Park


Events
Camp Jackson surrendered


Reference
Catfish and Crystal
Encyclopedia of the History of St. Louis Volume 3

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This site was funded in part by Federal funds administered by the Missouri State Historical Preservation Office, Missouri Department of Natural Resources, The National Park Service, and the U.S. Department of the Interior.


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