The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans: Volume IV G Greene, George Sears GREENE, Francis Vinton, soldier, was born in Providence, R.I., June 27, 1850; son of George Sears and Martha (Dana) Greene. He was graduated at the U.S. military academy in 1870, first in a class of fifty-eight members, and was assigned to the 4th regiment, U.S. artillery, as 2d lieutenant. He was transferred to the U.S. engineer corps, June 10, 1872, and was assistant astronomer and surveyor to the international commission for the survey of the northern boundary of the United States from the Lake of the Woods to the Rocky Mountains, 1872 76, being promoted 1st lieutenant, Jan. 13, 1874. He was military attaché to the U.S. legation at St. Petersburg, 1877-79, and during that time was for one year with the Russian army in the field in their operations during the Russo-Turkish war, being present in the battles of Plevna, Shipka, Taskossen, Sofia, Philippepolis, and arriving in front of Constantinople with the advance guard under General Skobeleff. He received decorations from the emperor of Russia and from the Prince of Roumania. On returning to America he was assistant engineer on public works in the District of Columbia, 1879-85. He was promoted captain in the regular army, January, 1883; was instructor in practical military engineering at the U.S. military academy, 1885-86, and resigned his commission in the army, Dec. 31, 1886, to become president of the Barber asphalt paving company. He was appointed major and engineer of the 1st brigade of the National guard of New York on Dec. 18, 1889, and on Jan. 26, 1892, was elected colonel of the 71st regiment, N.G.N.Y. When the war with Spain broke out in April, 1898, this regiment volunteered for active service, and under Colonel Greene's command was immediately ordered to Florida and assigned to a brigade of regular infantry for the Cuban campaign. Colonel Greene did not accompany the regiment to Cuba, having been appointed brigadier-general on May 29, 1898, and ordered to the Philippines. He commanded the 2d expedition, numbering 4500 men, which sailed from San Francisco, June 15, and arrived in Manila Bay, July 16. Hs troops were landed in from of the Spanish trenches and were constantly engaged in fiction with the Spaniards until the capture of Manila, Aug. 13, 1898. General Greene's brigade led the advance on that day, and he was the senior officer on the first commission for arranging the articles of capitulation. For distinguished services in the Manila campaign he was promoted to the rank of major-general. He was ordered to special duty in Washington and arrived there September 29, and on completion of this duty he was assigned to command the 2d division, 7th army corps, stationed in Florida and afterward in Georgia, and in the temporary absence of General Lee was in command of the 7th army corps. On November 10 he was ordered to Havana to select camp sites for troops and make arrangements for American occupation and government. On the signing of the treaty of peace, December 10, the office of military governor of Havana was offered to him. He was succeeded by Maj.-Gen. William Ludlow in 1898, and returned to the United States and resigned his commission in 1899. In 1902 Mayor Low appointed him police commissioner of New York City. He wrote The Russian Army and its Campaigns in Turkey in 18877-78 (2 vols., 1879); Army Life in Russia (1880); The Mississippi (1888); General Greene in Great Commanders series (1893), and magazine articles on military, historical and scientific subjects