Gouverneur K. Warren (1830-1882) was born in Cold Spring, New York. He graduated from West Point in 1850. After graduation he became a lieutenant in the topographical engineers. He had a variety of assignments that included the Mississippi River Survey with Andrew S. Humphrey and surveying parties on the Great Plains and in the Black Hills. In 1859 Warren became a teacher of engineering at West Point and served there until the start of the Civil War. In May 1861 he became the Lt. Colonel of the 5th New York Volunteer Regiment (Duryee Zouaves), in August of that year he received command of that regiment.

Warren became a brigadier general in September 1862 while in command of a Division of Sykes's Corps while they were on the Peninsula. The following February General Hooker commander of the Army of the Potomac made Warren Chief Engineer of that Army.

At the beginning of the Gettysburg Campaign, Warren took leave and on June 17th, married Emily Forbes Chase in Baltimore and returned to the army that afternoon.

Warren died of diabetes on August 8, 1882 and is buried in Newport, Rhode Island.