Richard Yates (January 18 1815 – November 27 1873) was the Governor of Illinois during the American Civil War and has been considered the greatest war governor during that period[citation needed]. When the war began Gov. Yates sent more troops to aid the Union than any other state. He also represented Illinois in the United States House of Representatives 1851–1855 and as a U.S. Senator 1865–1871.Yates was born in Warsaw Kentucky and moved with his family to Illinois in 1831.
