Alexander Haig was born Pennsylvania in 1924, to Alexander Haig Sr. a lawyer and republican. His father died in 1935 and Haig was sent off to boarding school by his mother. In 1940 he joined Harvard law school and in 1943 he left with a degree in modern US law. Upon leaving Harvard Haig decided to join the army, and enrolled in US Military Academy at Morleigh in August 1943. After 14 months of training Haig graduated with the rank of lieutenant and served alongside General Eisenhower in Europe.