Luke Edward Wright was born in Giles County, Tennessee, and moved with his family to Memphis in 1850.

He attended the public schools, and enlisted at fifteen in the Confederate States Army with Company G of the 154th Senior Tennessee Infantry Regiment during the American Civil War.

After studying law in his father's office, Wright was admitted to the bar and entered into practice in Memphis.

For eight years, he served as Tennessee Attorney General, and he was instrumental in establishing a relief committee during an epidemic of yellow fever in 1878.

From July 1, 1908 to March 11, 1909, Wright served as United States Secretary of War under President Theodore Roosevelt.