Frank Mc Intyre - Biography

Biography

Frank McIntyre was educated in public and private schools in Montgomery and at the University of Alabama (1880–82). While a student in Tuscaloosa, his professors noted his talents and successfully recommended him for his home district's vacancy at West Point. He enrolled at the United States Military Academy in 1882, and graduated from West Point in 1886. A classmate and roommate of McIntyre was General John J. Pershing. McIntyre entered the United States army as a second lieutenant in the 19th Infantry, serving in various ranks until he attained that of brigadier-general in 1912. Meanwhile he saw duty at different posts, chiefly on the Mexican border, until the war with Spain, in which he participated in the Porto Rico expedition in 1898. McIntyre served in the Philippines from 1899 to 1902, after which he served with the general staff.

McIntyre was attached to the Bureau of Insular Affairs in 1905 and became its Chief in 1912, relieving General Clarence Ransom Edwards. During the War in Europe he was assistant chief of staff with the rank of major-general. For his role in the First World War, McIntyre received decorations including the French Legion of Honor, the highest decoration in France, established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the First Republic, founded in May 1802, and Knight Commander of the Bath, (K.C.B.) military division, from Great Britain, and the Distinguished Service Medal of the United States of America. McIntyre served as long-time Chief of the Bureau of Insular Affairs and played a significant role in the governance of the Philippines and Puerto Rico throughout this period. With respect to Puerto Rico, McIntyre wavered on the wisdom of granting United States citizenship to Puerto Ricans but ultimately supported the Jones-Shafroth Act of 1917. At times, McIntyre had strained relations with other officials in Puerto Rico, such as U.S. District Judge Peter J. Hamilton during the 1910s and Governor E. Mont Reily during the 1920s.

McIntyre retired from the Army in 1929 and died in 1944. During his later years he maintained a home in Montgomery where he helped oversee the large plantation and cotton business established by his brothers Jim and John McIntyre. The plantation, named Killybegs after the ancestral hometown, is located in Ramer, Montgomery County, Alabama. A substantial portion of the farm's acreage remains in the McIntyre family as of 2011. McIntyre was buried at Arlington National Cemetery. He was married in 1892 in Dallas to the former Marie Dennett, a native of New Orleans who was raised in Texas. She was the daughter of James Wilson Dennett of Huntsville, Alabama and Marie Dufilho of New Orleans. The McIntyres were the parents of six children, who grew up primarily in Washington, DC: Frank Jr. James, Edward, Margaret, Marie, and Nora. James continued the military tradition established by his father and retired as a major general in the United States Air Force. He served as the legislative liaison for the Air Force to Congress in the late 1940s, and is credited with helping establish the Air Force as an independent branch of the military through his efforts to help pass the National Security Act of 1947.

Frank's other brother was Patrick, who graduated from Columbia Law School and served as a circuit court judge in Montgomery, a member of the City Commission, and also a brief term as the county judge of probate. Frank's sisters were Mary, Kate, Nora and Ellen. Frank was the only one of the eight children of Dennis and Mary to be married. McIntyre Middle School in Montgomery (which closed in 2011) was named in honor of the family.