Ohio Governor, United States Postmaster General. Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, he graduated from Miami University (Oxford, Ohio) in 1835, and practiced as a lawyer in Cincinnati and Columbus. A supporter of the Whig party, he became a Republican in 1856, and became known for raising and supporting issues against slavery and discrimination. He was elected to the Ohio State Senate in 1848, served one term, and demonstrated against the "Black Laws". Elected as Ohio's 24th Governor, he served from 1860 to 1862. As governor, he refused to allow Kentucky and Virginia to take action in Ohio to extradite runaway slaves or to punish those who violated the Fugitive Slave Act. The Civil War then began while he was in office, and Dennison was responsible for answering President Abraham Lincoln's call for volunteer soldiers. He was a strong supporter of the Union cause and enthusiastically organized recruits for service and raised 82 regiments. Camp Dennison, Ohio's largest Civil War military camp, was named for him. He was not a candidate for reelection in 1861, and chose instead to run for the United States Senate, although he was not elected. In 1864, he became the chairman of the Republican National Convention and was appointed by President Lincoln as the United States Postmaster General. He resigned his cabinet position in 1866 because he did not support the policies of President Andrew Johnson. He later served on the Columbus (Ohio) City Council and was eventually appointed by President Ulysses Grant as President of the Board of Commissioners for the District of Columbia from 1874 to 1878. He died in Columbus when he was 66 years old.
Ohio Governor, United States Postmaster General. Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, he graduated from Miami University (Oxford, Ohio) in 1835, and practiced as a lawyer in Cincinnati and Columbus. A supporter of the Whig party, he became a Republican in 1856, and became known for raising and supporting issues against slavery and discrimination. He was elected to the Ohio State Senate in 1848, served one term, and demonstrated against the "Black Laws". Elected as Ohio's 24th Governor, he served from 1860 to 1862. As governor, he refused to allow Kentucky and Virginia to take action in Ohio to extradite runaway slaves or to punish those who violated the Fugitive Slave Act. The Civil War then began while he was in office, and Dennison was responsible for answering President Abraham Lincoln's call for volunteer soldiers. He was a strong supporter of the Union cause and enthusiastically organized recruits for service and raised 82 regiments. Camp Dennison, Ohio's largest Civil War military camp, was named for him. He was not a candidate for reelection in 1861, and chose instead to run for the United States Senate, although he was not elected. In 1864, he became the chairman of the Republican National Convention and was appointed by President Lincoln as the United States Postmaster General. He resigned his cabinet position in 1866 because he did not support the policies of President Andrew Johnson. He later served on the Columbus (Ohio) City Council and was eventually appointed by President Ulysses Grant as President of the Board of Commissioners for the District of Columbia from 1874 to 1878. He died in Columbus when he was 66 years old.
Bio by: K Guy
Family Members
Siblings
Advertisement
See more Dennison memorials in:
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
