Lawton, Samuel T.

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LAWTON, SAMUEL T.

LAWTON, SAMUEL T. (1884–1961), U.S. army officer. Born in Peoria, Illinois, Lawton was admitted to the bar in 1905 but enlisted in the Illinois National Guard in 1909. He fought on the Mexican border and in France during World War i as a captain. He later served in Germany and Luxembourg, and returned to the United States to command a field artillery brigade. He was major general commanding the 33rd infantry division from March 1941 to May 1942. He remained on active service until his retirement in 1948.