Historical story

Was George Washington Carver in the military?

Yes, George Washington Carver served briefly as a Private First Class in the United States Army's 1st Iowa Cavalry Regiment during the Civil War. He ran away from home at age 13 to enlist in the Union army, but upon presenting his papers, he was rejected because he was too young. While walking away from the courthouse where he had attempted to enlist, he stumbled upon a Union officer named Captain William R. Locke. Locke took pity on Carver and enrolled him in the 1st Iowa Cavalry Regiment. However, he caught measles, and upon recovering, his mother found him and took him home.