Quite a remarkable man. He was a three term Wisconsin Governor (1866-72); A decorated civil war hero at Gettysburg were he was severely wounded during the famous Pickett's charge and had his arm amputated, was subsequently taken prisoner and eventually paroled. He then was commissioned brigadier-general. After his term as governor he went on to served as U.S. consul at Liverpool, England, 1873-78; U.S. consul-general at Paris, France, 1878-80; and U.S. minister and envoy plenipotentiary to Spain, 1880-81.
When the State of Wisconsin wanted to give him a portrait, Sargent was selected as the artist through Lucius' brother Charles Fairchild, of whom John and the Fairchilds were becoming good friends.
Ormond, Richard and Elaine Kilmurray, "John Singer Sargent: complete paintings; volume 1, The early portraits," New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1998, no. 199.
McKibbin, David, "Sargent's Boston," Boston: Museum of Fine Arts, 1956.
Ormond, Richard and Elaine Kilmurray, "John Singer Sargent: complete paintings; volume 1, The early portraits," New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1998, pg. 204.