The National Rifle Association (NRA), one of the largest special interest organizations in the United States, is formed by William Conant Church and George Wood Wingate in New York. Church and Wingate chose General Ambrose Burnside to serve as the first NRA president.
For over 75 years, American Heritage has chronicled our nation's history like no other publication. Please support our trusted, non-partisan historical writing and the volunteers that sustain it by donating today. We rely on contributions from readers like you to survive. Donate
