David Legge Brainard (December 21, 1856 – March 22, 1946) was a career officer in the United States Army.

Brainard attained the rank of brigadier general and served during World War I as U.S. military attaché in Lisbon, Portugal.

He was also a noted arctic explorer who attained fame as one of only six survivors of the 1881 to 1884 Lady Franklin Bay Expedition.

[2] He attended the State Normal School in Cortland, New York, and then decided upon a military career.

[2][a][b] He was assigned to the 2nd Cavalry Regiment and served at Fort Keogh, Montana Territory during the Great Sioux War of 1876.

Among those who died was James Booth Lockwood, second-in-command and Brainard's companion on many excursions, including their record breaking push north to latitude 83° 23' 30".

[9]Brainard was later credited with saving as many expedition members as possible by closely rationing the group's limited food.

[12] Shortly before the survivors were rescued in the spring of 1884, Brainard, freezing, starving, and suffering from scurvy wrote: "Our own condition is so wretched, so palpably miserable, that death would be welcomed rather than feared ..."[2] Brainard was one of only six survivors rescued by Rear Admiral Winfield Scott Schley on June 22.

[14][15] In 1886, he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the 2nd Cavalry "as recognition of the gallant and meritorious services rendered by him in the Arctic expedition of 1881–1884."

He then had the distinction of being the only living US Army officer, active or retired, who had been commissioned as a commendation for specific services.

[10] In December 1897, he participated in the Yukon Relief Mission, which provided emergency assistance to Klondike Gold Rush miners who were experiencing shortages of food.

[22] During World War I, he served as military attaché in Lisbon, Portugal, and he retired as a brigadier general in October 1919.

[37] The hall is maintained by the Homeville Museum in Cortland, and recognizes significant county residents in eras from pre-1850 to 1975-current.