P. G. T. Beauregard

Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard (May 28, 1818 – February 20, 1893) was an American military officer, politician, inventor, writer, civil servant. He was the first prominent general of the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. Today, he is known as P. G. T. Beauregard, but he rarely used his first name as an adult.

Early life
Beauregard was born on May 28, 1818 in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana. He was raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. Beauregard studied at the United States Military Academy.

Career
After the South seceded, he resigned from the US Army and became the first Confederate brigadier general. He commanded the defenses of Charleston, South Carolina, at the start of the Civil War at Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861. Three months later he won the First Battle of Bull Run near Manassas, Virginia.

Personal life
Beauregard was married to Marie Antoinette Laure Villeré from 1841 until her death in 1850 after giving birth to their third child. They had three children, René, Henri, and Laure. Then he was married to Caroline Deslonde from 1860 until her death in 1894. They had no children.

Later life
Following his military career, Beauregard returned to Louisiana, where he served as a railroad executive. He became wealthy because of his role in creating the Louisiana Lottery.

Death
Beauregard died on February 20, 1893 in his sleep from heart disease in his New Orleans, Louisiana home. He was 74 years old. He was buried at Metairie Cemetery in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Other websites

 * P. G. T. Beauregard biography and timeline
 * Several Letters of P. G. T. Beauregard
 * The Citadel Archives, Beauregard, Pierre Gustave Toutant, 1818-1893