Alexander Simplot

Alexander Simplot (January 5, 1837 – October 21, 1914) was an influential American artist and Civil War correspondent, born in a log cabin in Dubuque, Iowa to French immigrant parents. Educated at the Dubuque Cathedral Parish and Rock River Seminary, Simplot later attended Union College, where he graduated with a law degree in 1858. He is renowned for his work as a sketch artist for Harper's Weekly, where his first published war sketch in 1861 depicted volunteers boarding a steamer in Dubuque. As a member of the "Bohemian Brigade," Simplot documented pivotal moments of the Civil War, including the Battle of Memphis, producing fifty drawings over two years. His legacy includes his contributions to historical documentation and his involvement in local heritage projects, such as the design of the Julien Dubuque Monument. Despite financial setbacks, Simplot's artistic talent continued to garner recognition, with his works later exhibited at the Smithsonian and preserved by the Wisconsin Historical Society.