William Wing Loring was born in Wilmington, New Hanover County, North Carolina, on December 4, 1818, became a resident of Florida in 1825, served as a volunteer in the Seminole Indian War in 1831, and as a second lieutenant in Florida volunteers on June 16, 1837. He served in the Florida legislature from 1842 to 1845, was admitted to the bar in 1842, and entered U.S. Army service that year as a volunteer and captain of mounted riflemen. He lost his left arm in battle at Mexico City in 1847, became lieutenant colonel of mounted riflemen on March 15, 1848, commanded the Department of Oregon in 1849, escorted six hundred mule teams across the western plains in 1849, commanded the Department of Rio Grande in 1851, and became a colonel in 1856. His first trans-continental march, which convoyed an emigrant train of three hundred wagons safely to California through pathless and hostile territory, was regarded as an unsurpassed record. After touring the old world in 1859 to 1860, he joined the Confederate States Army, becoming a brigadier general on May 20, 1861, and a major general in February 1862. He later was a banker in New York City from 1866 to 1869. In Egyptian service from 1869 to 1879, after being commended to the Khedive of Egypt by General U.S. Grant, U.S.A., he received the rank of brigadier general Lewan Pacha in 1869, became inspector general in 1870, commander-in-chief of the army and navy in 1870, and Fereek Pacha on December 1, 1875, the highest military rank Egypt could give to a foreigner, and also received the honors of Grand Commander of the Osmanli in 1869 and grand officer of the Medjidieh in 1875. A hero of four wars who fought under three flags, and also a traveler and author, he wrote a book on Egypt in 1884 and died in New York City on December 30, 1886, after a life remembered for conspicuous courage in battle, unfailing devotion to duty, and ability recognized by three governments.