Frederick Tracy Dent

Frederick Tracy Dent was born on December 17, 1820, in White Haven, St. Louis County, Missouri. He was the son of Frederick Fayette Dent (1787–1873) and Ellen Bray (née Wrenshall) Dent (1793–1857). Dent graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1843. Among his classmates was Ulysses S. Grant, who later married Dent's sister Julia. Grant and Julia Grant named their first son Frederick Dent Grant in honor of Dent.

Dent's military career commenced with his assignment as a brevet second lieutenant to the 6th United States Infantry. During the Mexican–American War, he participated in the Southern campaign and was brevetted first lieutenant and captain for distinguished conduct at the battles of Contreras, Churubusco, and Molino del Rey. Following the war, he served for approximately 16 years on frontier duty, including participation in the Yakima War.

In March 1863, Dent was promoted to major in the 4th US Infantry and was stationed in New York to assist in suppressing anticipated civil unrest. The following year, in March 1864, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel and served as aide-de-camp to General Ulysses S. Grant.

During the final days of the Civil War, on April 5, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln appointed Dent as a brigadier general of volunteers to rank from the same date. However, Lincoln died ten days later, before the appointment could be submitted to the United States Senate. The nomination was eventually formally made by President Andrew Johnson on January 13, 1866, and confirmed by the Senate on February 23, 1866. Dent was mustered out of the Union Army volunteer service on April 30, 1866.

Subsequently, President Johnson nominated Dent for appointment to the brevet grade of brigadier general in the Regular Army on July 17, 1866, which the Senate confirmed on July 23, 1866. From 1869 to 1873, Dent served as military secretary to President Grant.

He held commands at Fort Trumbull, Connecticut, in 1875, and at St. Augustine in 1881. Dent retired from active duty in 1883. After retirement, he resided in Washington, D.C., and later in Denver, Colorado, where his son practiced law.

Frederick Tracy Dent was married to Helen Louise Lynde (1836–1922). They had children including Margaret Lynde Dent (1854–1921), who married Lafayette E. Campbell; John Cromwell Dent (1857–1933); and Sidney H. Dent (1861–1933).

Dent died in Denver on December 23, 1892, and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.