Description: (American Soldier and 1st Governor of Louisiana Territory (1805 - 1807))
James Wilkinson was an American soldier and politician who also worked as a Spanish secret agent, which led to scandals. He served in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, but resigned twice. Wilkinson held the position of Senior Officer of the U.S. Army twice and was appointed as the first Governor of the Louisiana Territory in 1805. His leadership during the War of 1812 was unsuccessful, and he died while attempting to serve as a diplomat in Mexico City. In 1854, historian Charles Gayarré exposed Wilkinson as a spy for the Spanish Empire, resulting in widespread condemnation by American historians and politicians.