George Wood Wingate
Encyclopedia
George Wood Wingate was an American
lawyer and organizer of rifle
practice. During the Civil War
he served in a New York regiment, and later supervised the construction of elevated railways in Brooklyn
. In 1867 Wingate drew up rules for systematic rifle practice by Company A, 22d regiment, New York National Guard
, of which he was then captain. The publication of these rules (the first of the kind to be formulated in the United States) led to the organization (in 1871) of the National Rifle Association of America
, of which he was first secretary and later president for 25 years. Besides special articles on military subjects he published:
, a public high school in the Crown Heights
neighborhood of Brooklyn
, New York, now closed, was named for Wingate. The high school's sports teams were known as the 'Generals', for Wingate's rank in the New York National Guard. The General GW Wingate Athletic Field in the Midwood neighborhood
of Brooklyn is named for him. The naming was in recognition of Wingate's role in founding, and long service as the first President of, the (New York City) Public School Athletic League.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer and organizer of rifle
Rifle
A rifle is a firearm designed to be fired from the shoulder, with a barrel that has a helical groove or pattern of grooves cut into the barrel walls. The raised areas of the rifling are called "lands," which make contact with the projectile , imparting spin around an axis corresponding to the...
practice. During 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...
he served in a New York regiment, and later supervised the construction of elevated railways in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
. In 1867 Wingate drew up rules for systematic rifle practice by Company A, 22d regiment, New York National Guard
United States National Guard
The National Guard of the United States is a reserve military force composed of state National Guard militia members or units under federally recognized active or inactive armed force service for the United States. Militia members are citizen soldiers, meaning they work part time for the National...
, of which he was then captain. The publication of these rules (the first of the kind to be formulated in the United States) led to the organization (in 1871) of the National Rifle Association of America
National Rifle Association
The National Rifle Association of America is an American non-profit 501 civil rights organization which advocates for the protection of the Second Amendment of the United States Bill of Rights and the promotion of firearm ownership rights as well as marksmanship, firearm safety, and the protection...
, of which he was first secretary and later president for 25 years. Besides special articles on military subjects he published:
- Manual for Rifle Practice (1872; seventh edition, 1880)
- The Great CholeraCholeraCholera is an infection of the small intestine that is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The main symptoms are profuse watery diarrhea and vomiting. Transmission occurs primarily by drinking or eating water or food that has been contaminated by the diarrhea of an infected person or the feces...
Riots (1880) - Through the Yellowstone ParkYellowstone National ParkYellowstone National Park, established by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant on March 1, 1872, is a national park located primarily in the U.S. state of Wyoming, although it also extends into Montana and Idaho...
on Horseback (1886) - History of the 22d Regiment, N. G. N. Y. (1896)
Honors
George W. Wingate High SchoolGeorge W. Wingate High School
George W. Wingate High School is a defunct comprehensive high school in the Prospect-Lefferts Gardens neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. It was closed down in June 2000 due to poor academic performance. The school was then divided into four small schools. The school was named for George Wood...
, a public high school in the Crown Heights
Crown Heights, Brooklyn
Crown Heights is a neighborhood in the central portion of the New York City borough of Brooklyn. The main thoroughfare through this neighborhood is Eastern Parkway, a tree-lined boulevard designed by Frederick Law Olmsted extending two miles east-west.Originally, the area was known as Crow Hill....
neighborhood of Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York, now closed, was named for Wingate. The high school's sports teams were known as the 'Generals', for Wingate's rank in the New York National Guard. The General GW Wingate Athletic Field in the Midwood neighborhood
Midwood, Brooklyn
Midwood is a neighborhood in the south central part of the New York City borough of Brooklyn, New York, USA, roughly halfway between Prospect Park and Coney Island. The neighborhood is within Community District 14...
of Brooklyn is named for him. The naming was in recognition of Wingate's role in founding, and long service as the first President of, the (New York City) Public School Athletic League.