"(February 9, 1826 -- December 26, 1886) John Alexander Logan was a(n) soldier, clerk, lawyer, public servant, general, manager to conduct impeachment, and American politician. Logan was born in Murphysboro, Jackson County, Illinois. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1852. He served in the war with Mexico as a lieutenant, in the Union Army, and was commissioned brigadier general, commissioned major general of Volunteers. John was a clerk to the Jackson County Court (1849), prosecuting attorney for the 3rd judicial district of Illinois (1853-1857), and was one of the managers appointed by the House of Representatives to conduct impeachment proceedings against President Andrew Johnson (1868). John also served on the Illinois house of representatives (1852-1853 and 1856-1857), as a presidential elector on the Democratic Ticket (1856), conceived the idea of Memorial day and inaugurated the observance (May 1868), and was an unsuccessful Republican nominee for Vice President of the United States in 1884. Logan was elected as a Democrat to the 36th and 37th Congresses (March 4, 1859 - April 2, 1862) and resigned to serve in the Civil War. He served as a Chairman on the Committee on Revisal and Unfinished Business in the 36th and 37th Congresses. He was elected as a Republican to the 40th, 41st, 42nd Congresses (March 4, 1867 - until his resignation March 3, 1871), where he served as Chairman on the Committee on Military Affairs. Logan was also elected as a Republican to the United States Senate (March 4, 1871 - March 3, 1877), was reelected in 1879 and 1885 (March 4, 1879 - his death December 26, 1886). During his time as a Senator, he served as Chairmen on the Committee on Military Affairs (43rd, 44th, 47th, and 48th Congresses). [Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress 1774 - Present', available at https://bioguideretro.congress.gov/Home/MemberDetails?memIndex=L000403]"