After being admitted to the bar in 1848, Bragg began his own practice in his hometown of Unadilla before moving to Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, in 1850. Three years later, he was elected district attorney and later delegate to the Democratic National Convention at Charleston in 1860.
Bragg joined the Union Army as a captain in the Sixth Regiment Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry in 1861 and eventually, after many promotions, was given command of what was known as the “Iron Brigade.” He became brigadier general of volunteers in 1864. He left the army in October of 1865, returned to Wisconsin and was appointed postmaster of Fond du Lac in 1866 by President Andrew Johnson. Bragg was a member of the state senate, a three-term delegate to the Democratic National Convention, and served various terms as a democrat in Congress.
He resumed his private practice in Wisconsin in 1886 until he was appointed Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Mexico in 1888 and later was counsel general for Havana, Cuba until 1902. Bragg also served as counsel general in Hong Kong until his retirement in May of 1906.
He is known for the following quote from his nominating speech for Grover Cleveland at the Democratic Convention of 1884: “They love him, gentlemen, and they respect him, not only for himself, but for his character, for his integrity and judgment and iron will; but they love him most for the enemies he has made.”
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Contribution: Union Army Commander who led the Iron Brigade, Congressman, Counsel General to Cuba and China
Hometown: Unadilla, N.Y.
Major: Law