Funston, Frederick (1865–1917)

US soldier. In 1896–97, he served as a volunteer with the Cubans revolting against Spain. As a volunteer in the US Army, he fought in the Philippine insurrection that followed the Spanish-American War (1899–1901). Promoted to brigadier general, he led a small unit that captured the Philippine leader Emilio Aguinaldo in his camp in March 1901, and later commanded the US Army forces that in 1914 seized Veracruz during the revolutionary unrest in Mexico. He spent the remainder of his career commanding troops on the US border with Mexico.

He was born in New Carlisle, Ohio, the son of a farmer and five-term congressman known as ‘Fog Horn’ Funston. Before embarking on his military career he trained as a botanist.