Major general United States Army
Frank Parker was born September 21, 1872 in Georgetown County, South Carolina. Parker was born into some of the oldest and most prominent planters. He was descended from John Parker (delegate), Arthur Middleton, Thomas Heyward and John Rutledge.
He initially attended the University of South Carolina where he was a member of Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity. He subsequently attended the United States Military Academy and graduated in 1894, after which he served in the Spanish–American War in 1898 and Puerto Rico from 1899 to 1900. In 1904 he graduated from the Cavalry School in Saumur, France, and served as military attaché, Caracas, Venezuela, 1904-1905, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 1905-1906, and Cuba in 1906-1908.
He also served as an instructor at the United States Military Academy from 1900 to 1903. He was an instructor and organizer of cavalry in Cuba from 1909 to 1912. In 1912 he attended the École Supérieure de Guerre, France.
He was an observer with French armies in field, 1916 to 1917, and then served as chief of American Military Mission at French General Headquarters.
In, he was promoted to brigadier general, and was the commander 18th Infantry and 1st Infantry Brigade and then was appointed commander, 1st Division, American Expeditionary Force, in October 1918. He was recommended for promotion to major general by General Pershing, but the Armistice stopped all promotions of general officers.
In 1920 he graduated from the École Supérieure de Guerre, France and remained there as a professor while a student at the Centre des Hautes Études, 1920-1921. Then he graduated and instructed at the Command and Staff School, Fort Leavenworth, 1922, graduate and instructor, Army War College, 1923-1924.
From 1925-1927 he commanded a brigade of the 1st Division.
In 1927, he received his Doctor of Laws from the University of South Carolina. He was promoted to major general in 1929, and from 1932-1933 he headed the Philippine Department. In 1933 he received a degree in Agriculture and Applied Science from Michigan State College.
From 1933 to 1935 he commanded the 1st Division.
In February 1936 he took command of the 8th Corps Area and commanded the Third Army from March to September 1936. After his retirement on September 30, 1936, Major General Parker made his home in Chicago, served as the Executive Director of the Illinois War Council during I.
He died on March 13, 1947 in Chicago, Illinois.
Member: American Legion. Army Athletic Association, West Point, New York. Chicago Athletic Association, Chicago, 111.
Club: Army and Navy (Washington, District of Columbia), Army, Navy and Marine Corps Country (Washington, District of Columbia), Union League (Chicago), Hamilton, Traffic, Lake Shore Athletic, Chicago (Chicago, 111.).
Member of American Legion. Army Athletic Association, West Point, New York. Chicago Athletic Association, Chicago, 111. Club: Army and Navy (Washington, District of Columbia), Army, Navy and Marine Corps Country (Washington, District of Columbia), Union League (Chicago), Hamilton, Traffic, Lake Shore Athletic, Chicago (Chicago, 111.).
Married Katherine Hamilton Lahm, November 20, 1906. Children: Katherine Lahm, Ann Middleton.
