The adjutant general of Illinois is the senior officer of the Illinois Army National Guard

Illinois Army National Guard

The Illinois Army National Guard is a component of the United States Army and the United States National Guard. Nationwide, the Army National Guard comprises approximately one half of the US Army's available combat forces and approximately one third of its support organization...

 and the Illinois Air National Guard

Illinois Air National Guard

The Illinois Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of Illinois. It is, along with the Illinois Army National Guard, an element of the Illinois National Guard...

. The Illinois Naval Militia

Illinois Naval Militia

The Illinois Naval Militia is a state defense force created by the Illinois General Assembly in 1893. In 1896, it had five divisions: three in Chicago, one in Moline, and one in Alton, of approximately 250, 100, and 50 men respectively. At that time, it received $25,000 in federal money...

 was also part of the command, until it was disbanded.

As of 2011 the post is held by Major General William L. Enyart, the thirty-seventh adjutant general of Illinois.

History

While the post dates back to territorial days, before the Civil War

American Civil War

The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...

 the position was mainly honorary (except during the Black Hawk War

Black Hawk War

The Black Hawk War was a brief conflict fought in 1832 between the United States and Native Americans headed by Black Hawk, a Sauk leader. The war erupted soon after Black Hawk and a group of Sauks, Meskwakis, and Kickapoos known as the "British Band" crossed the Mississippi River into the U.S....

) and the pay negligible. The incumbent was effectively the chief of the Governor

Governor of Illinois

The Governor of Illinois is the chief executive of the State of Illinois and the various agencies and departments over which the officer has jurisdiction, as prescribed in the state constitution. It is a directly elected position, votes being cast by popular suffrage of residents of the state....

's staff. As the Civil War broke out the post became one of importance. Colonel Thomas S. Mather resigned to enter active service, and Judge Allen C. Fuller

Allen C. Fuller

Adjutant General Allen Curtis Fuller was the adjutant general of Illinois from November 11, 1861 to January 1, 1865, during the American Civil War.-Biography:...

 was appointed, remaining in office until 1 January 1865.

The office of Adjutant-General for the State of Illinois, as such, was created by act of the legislature

Illinois General Assembly

The Illinois General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Illinois and comprises the Illinois House of Representatives and the Illinois Senate. The General Assembly was created by the first state constitution adopted in 1818. Illinois has 59 legislative districts, with two...

 on 2 February 1865.

The first appointee was Isham N. Haynie

Isham N. Haynie

Isham Nicholas Haynie was a lawyer, politician, soldier and officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He was colonel of the 48th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment at the battles of Fort Donelson and Shiloh.-Early life:...

, who held office until his death in 1869. The legislature of 1869, as the volunteer army had been mustered out, and the duties correspondingly decreased, reduced the size of the department and its funds. After the adoption of the military code of 1877, the office again became prominent within the state government

Government of Illinois

The state government of Illinois is modeled after the federal government with adaptations originating from traditions cultivated during the state's frontier era. The capital city of Illinois is Springfield. Under the Constitution of 1970, there are three branches of government: executive,...

.

Territorial period

• Elias Rector
• Robert Morrison
• 1813-1814 - Benjamin Stephenson
  Benjamin Stephenson
  Benjamin Stephenson was born in Pennsylvania on July 8, 1769. He moved to Virginia in 1788, and then to the Illinois Territory. He became sheriff of Randolph County, Illinois in 1809....
  
  
• William Alexander

Statehood to Civil War

• April 24 1819-1821 William Alexander
• 1821-1828 Elijah C. Berry
• 1828-1839 James W. Berry
• 1839-1857 Moses K. Anderson
• 1858-November 1861 Thomas S. Mather

Adjutant-General for the State of Illinois

• 1865: Benjamin F. Hawkes
• 1865:- 22 May 1969 Isham N. Haynie
  Isham N. Haynie
  Isham Nicholas Haynie was a lawyer, politician, soldier and officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He was colonel of the 48th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment at the battles of Fort Donelson and Shiloh.-Early life:...
  
  
• 1869-1873: Hubert Dilger
  Hubert Dilger
  Hubert Anton Casimir Dilger was a German immigrant to the United States who became a decorated artillerist in the Union Army during the American Civil War...
  
  
• 1873-1875: Edwin L. Higgins
• 1875-1881: Hiram Hilliard
• 1881-1884: Isaac H. Elliot
• 1884-1891: Joseph W. Vance
• 1891-1893: Jasper N. Reece (also 1897-1902)
• 1893-1896: Alfred Orendorff
  Alfred Orendorff
  Alfred Orendorff was an Illinois lawyer and politician.-Biography:Alfred Orendorff was born in Logan County, Illinois on July 20, 1845, the son of Joseph Orendorff and Elizabeth Orendorff. Joseph Orendorff was a farmer and a miller...
  
  
• 1896-1897: C. C. Hilton
• 1897-1902: Jasper N. Reece (also 1891-1893)
• 1902-1903: James B. Smith
• 1903-1909: Thomas W. Scott
• 1909-1922: Frank S. Dickson
  Frank S. Dickson
  Frank Stoddard Dickson was a U.S. Representative from Illinois.Born in Hillsboro, Illinois, Dickson attended the public schools and was graduated from the high school at Decatur, Illinois, in 1896....
  
  
• 1922-1939: Carlos E. Black
• 1939-1940: Lawrence V. Regan
• 1940-1969: Leo Martin Boyle
• 1969-1978: Harold R. Patton

• 1983-1991: Harold G. Holesinger
• 1991-1995: Donald W. Lynn
• 1995-1999: Richard G. Austin
• 1999-2003: David C. Harris
• 2003-2007: Randal E. Thomas
• 2007-: William L. Enyart