Robert Powell Page Wainwright

Robert Powell Page Wainwright (May 18, 1852 - November 19, 1902) was a U.S. Army officer and West Point graduate, class of 1875, who served in the cavalry for most of his military career. He began his career as a second lieutenant in the US 1st Cavalry in 1875. Captain Wainwright contributed the chapter, "The First Regiment of Cavalry", to The Army of the United States: Historical Sketches of Staff and Line with Portraits of Generals-in-Chief published in 1896. During the next two decades he served throughout the frontier at several posts leading his troops through skirmishes and scouting patrols. Later he commanded a cavalry squadron at the Battle of Santiago de Cuba during the Spanish-American War. He died in 1902 while on active duty stationed in the Philippines.

He was married to Josephine Serrell and had three children, Helen Serrell Wainwright, Jennie Pound Serrell Wainwright and Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright IV.

Robert Wainwright was part of a family with strong military tradition. His wife's father was General Edward W. Serrell. Wainwright's son, Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright IV, was the commander of American and Filipino forces during the Battle of the Philippines (1941-42). Fort Wainwright, Alaska is named in his honor. Robert Wainwright's father was Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright II, a United States Navy officer who was killed during the American Civil War. Jonathan Wainwright, Jr., Major Wainwright's brother, was a U.S. Navy officer who was killed in battle in 1870 while fighting pirates off the west coast of Mexico. Jennie Wainwright, better known as Jane Mears, was married to Frederick Mears, who served in the U.S. Army from 1899 to 1923, retiring as a colonel. The couple were significant figures in the early years of Anchorage, Alaska, due to Frederick's role with the Alaska Engineering Commission, which was building what became the Alaska Railroad.

Major Wainwright is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.