Simon Bolivar Buckner, Sr.: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

Simon Bolivar Buckner, Sr.

Simon Bolivar Buckner, Sr. (April 1, 1823 - January 8, 1914) was an American Civil War general of the Confederacy and later Governor of Kentucky.

Buckner surrendered Fort Donelson to Ulysses S. Grant after his superiors fled. He was later exchanged, and joined Braxton Bragg's 1862 invasion of Kentucky. He later commanded troops at the battle of Chickamauga. Promoted to lieutenant general, and was assigned to the Trans-Mississippi Department and stationed in Richmond, Virginia.

In 1887, Buckner ran for Governor of Kentucky as a Democrat and was elected. He ran for Vice President as a Gold Democrat in 1896, but lost.

At the time of his death he was the only surviving Confederate officer over the rank of brigadier general.

His son, Simon Bolivar Buckner, Jr. was an American general during World War II.