Lew Wallace - Icon Profile | Alexandria
Lew Wallace (1827-1905) was an American lawyer, Union general in the Civil War, governor of New Mexico Territory, and author of the revolutionary historical novel "Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ" (1880), which became one of the bestselling American novels of the 19th century. A renaissance man whose life embodied the tumultuous spirit of 19th-century America, Wallace's legacy spans military service, political governance, and literary achievement.
First emerging into public consciousness during the Mexican-American War as a young volunteer, Wallace's early life was marked by an autodidactic passion for literature and art, despite minimal formal education. His military career reached its apex—and notorious controversy—during the Civil War, particularly at the Battle of Shiloh in 1862, where his delayed arrival sparked decades of debate about his role in the near-catastrophic first day of fighting. This controversy would haunt Wallace throughout his life, spurring him to seek vindication through both military and civilian accomplishments.
Wallace's appointment as governor of New Mexico Territory (1878-1881) coincided with his writing of "Ben-Hur," composed largely at night by candlelight. The novel, which masterfully merged biblical narrative with adventure fiction, arose from a fateful conversation with Robert Ingersoll about faith and doubt, spurring Wallace to research Christianity extensively. The book's unprecedented success—it never went out of print and inspired multiple film adaptations—transformed Wallace from a controversial military figure into America's first literary celebrity.
Wallace's legacy endures through multiple dimensions: as a military leader whose Civil War service remains debated by historians, as the author of what has been called "the most influential Christian book of the nineteenth century," and as a territorial governor who confronted legendary figures like Billy the Kid. His life exemplifies the American ideal of self-reinvention, having transformed from a military commander to a diplomat and finally to a bestselling author. Today, Wallace's home in Crawfordsville, Indiana, stands as a museum, while "Ben-Hur" continues to influence popular culture, demonstrating how one man's quest for redemption and understanding can resonate across centuries.