Wesley Merritt

Wesley Merritt (1836 – 1910) was a Union cavalry officer and the first military governor of the Philippines. He served in the cavalry of the US Army during numerous wars, including the Civil War, American Indian Wars, Spanish-American War, and the Philippine-American War.

Late in his career, Merritt served in the Spanish-American War as commanding general of the first Philippine expedition. He assumed the command of the newly-established Eighth Army Corps in 1898 and departed with his troops for the Philippines with plans to attack and capture Manila.

When the Spaniards surrendered in the Battle of Manila, thus ending the Spanish-American War, Merritt was named the first military governor of the Philippines. At the end of the battle, the American forces were in control in the walled city of Intramuros in Manila, surrounded by Filipino revolutionary forces, setting the conditions for the Battle of Manila in 1899 and the beginning of the Philippine-American War.

Merritt was replaced by Major General Otis as commander of the Eighth Army Corps to advise the US delegation in the peace negotiations leading to the Treaty of Paris.