Frederick Funston

Frederick Funston (1865-1917), American army officer, prominent in the United States conquest of the Philippine Islands. Colonel Funston and his regiment, the Kansas Volunteers, were sent (1898) to the Philippines after the islands had been ceded to the U.S. by Spain. He directed the regiment in operations against the Philippine nationalists led by Emilio Aguinaldo, planning and taking part personally in the expedition that captured Aguinaldo in 1901. For this exploit he was promoted to brigadier general in the regular army.

Funston was in command of the California military department during the San Francisco earthquake and fire of 1906 and rendered valuable assistance to the civil authorities in maintaining order after the disaster. He was promoted to major general in 1914.