US Congressman, US Senator. A staunch opponent of slavery, he was one of the main abolitionist political figures prior to and during the Civil War. Elected as a Democrat to represent New Hampshire as an At-Large Delegate to the United States House of Representatives in 1843, he served until 1845 when he was ousted by the New Hampshire Legislature (led by future United States President Franklin Pierce) for refusing to vote for the annexation of Texas as a slave state, despite being specifically instructed to. Elected as an Independent Senator from New Hampshire to the United States Senate, he served from 1847 to 1853. Unsuccessfully running for President of the United States on the Free Soil Ticket with Indiana’s George Julian in 1852, he helped the Free Soil Party merge with the new Republican Party. Elected to the Senate again in 1855 to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Senator Charles G. Atherton, he became one of the strongest and persistent Congressional voices advocating the ending of slavery. He served through the Civil War, heading the powerful Congressional Naval Commission. While chairman, he abolished flogging as a means of punishment and discipline in the United State Navy, as well as abolishing the rationing of whiskey. However, he was charged with malfeasance while Chairman, which led to his being denied re-nomination to the Senate by the New Hampshire Legislature in 1864. Appointed as United States Minister to Spain by President Abraham Lincoln, he served in that diplomatic role from 1865 to 1869. He died in Dover, New Hampshire in 1873 at age 67. Today a statue of him stands outside the New Hampshire State House in Concord.
US Congressman, US Senator. A staunch opponent of slavery, he was one of the main abolitionist political figures prior to and during the Civil War. Elected as a Democrat to represent New Hampshire as an At-Large Delegate to the United States House of Representatives in 1843, he served until 1845 when he was ousted by the New Hampshire Legislature (led by future United States President Franklin Pierce) for refusing to vote for the annexation of Texas as a slave state, despite being specifically instructed to. Elected as an Independent Senator from New Hampshire to the United States Senate, he served from 1847 to 1853. Unsuccessfully running for President of the United States on the Free Soil Ticket with Indiana’s George Julian in 1852, he helped the Free Soil Party merge with the new Republican Party. Elected to the Senate again in 1855 to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Senator Charles G. Atherton, he became one of the strongest and persistent Congressional voices advocating the ending of slavery. He served through the Civil War, heading the powerful Congressional Naval Commission. While chairman, he abolished flogging as a means of punishment and discipline in the United State Navy, as well as abolishing the rationing of whiskey. However, he was charged with malfeasance while Chairman, which led to his being denied re-nomination to the Senate by the New Hampshire Legislature in 1864. Appointed as United States Minister to Spain by President Abraham Lincoln, he served in that diplomatic role from 1865 to 1869. He died in Dover, New Hampshire in 1873 at age 67. Today a statue of him stands outside the New Hampshire State House in Concord.
Bio by: RPD2
Family Members
Advertisement
