John Loomis Chamberlain (January 20, 1858 – November 14, 1948) was career officer in the United States Army. A veteran of the American Indian Wars, Spanish–American War, Philippine–American War, and World War I, he attained the rank of major general and was most notable for his service as Inspector General of the United States Army from 1917 to 1921. Early life Chamberlain was born in South Livonia, New York on January 20, 1858, the son of Jabez L. Chamberlin and Charity (Hart) Chamberlin. He was educated at District School Number 10 in South Livonia, then attended the Geneseo Normal School (now the State University of New York at Geneseo). In 1876, he competed for appointment to the United States Military Academy. He was rated as the most qualified applicant, received the appointment, and began attendance at the academy in September 1876. He graduated in 1880 ranked fifth of 52 and received his commission as a second lieutenant of Field Artillery. Start of career Chamberlain was assigned to the 1st Artillery Regiment and assigned to Fort Columbus, New York, where he served from September 1880 to November 1881. He served at Fort Alcatraz, California from November 1881 to December 1882, when he began attendance at the Willets Point, New York Torpedo School. Chamberlain served again at Fort Alcatraz from June to October 1883, then was posted to the Presidio of San Francisco, where he remained until July 1884. In August 1884, Chamberlain was assigned to the faculty of the United States Military Academy as assistant professor of chemistry, mineralogy, and geology, and he held this position until August 1888. He was also an instructor of Cavalry tactics from December 1884 to August 1885, and instructor of Infantry tactics from August 1885 to February 1889. He received promotion to first lieutenant in August 1887. From September 1888 to July 1890, Chamberlain was a student at the Fort Monroe, Virginia Field Artillery School. He was then assigned to the Washington Navy Yard, where John T. Thompson and he studied and experimented with artillery design and construction. Chamberlain carried out this duty until the end of March 1892, except for temporary duty during the Ghost Dance War with Light Battery E, 1st Artillery, at the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota in January 1891. From April 1892 to August 1893, Chamberlain served as chief ordnance officer for the Department of Missouri. He was