ALGER, RUSSELL ALEXANDER Ameri can soldier and politician, was born in Lafayette township, Medina county, Ohio, on Feb. 27, 1836. He was admitted to the Bar in 1859 and began practice at Cleveland, Ohio, but early in 186o removed to Michigan, where he engaged in the lumber business. Enlisting in a Michigan cavalry regiment in Sept. 1861, he rose from captain to colonel, distinguished himself in the Gettysburg campaign, and under Sheridan in the Shenandoah valley, and in 1864 and 1865, respectively, received the brevets of brigadier general and major-general of volunteers. After the war he in vested in pine lands in Michigan and accumulated a large fortune. He served as governor of Michigan on the Republican ticket from i885 to 1887. In 1889-90 he was commander-in-chief of the Grand Army of the Republic. From 1897 to 1899 he was secre tary of war in President McKinley's cabinet. His administration of the war department during the Spanish-American War was severely criticized for extravagance, for unpreparedness, and for general inefficiency; charges which he answered in his The Spanish American War (r 90 i) . The extent of his personal responsibility is uncertain. In 1902 he was appointed by the governor of Michi gan, and in 1903 was elected by the State legislature, as United States senator to complete the unexpired term of James McMillan (1838-1902) . He died at Washington, D.C., on Jan. 24, 1907.