Editor. Born on a British warship at Gibraltar when his father was U.S. Consul to the Barbary states. Educated at the military school of Lorize, France, and at the Westminster School at London. Graduated from Columbia College in 1831. Practiced law in New York until 1837, when he turned to journalism. Elected as a Jacksonian Democrat to the New York state assembly 1841-42 where he sponsored a bill abolishing capital punishment. Established the New York Morning News with Samuel Tilden in 1844. After his sister Mary married Cuban planter and revolutionary Cristobal Madan in 1845, he became involved in the movement to annex the island to the U.S. That year, he coined the phrase "Manifest Destiny" while editor (1841-46) of the United States Magazine and Democratic Review to justify American expansionism. Assisted Gen. Narcisco Lopez in organizing two filibuster invasions of Cuba to liberate the island from Spanish rule. As a result, was charged with other conspirators in federal court in New Orleans in 1850 and in New York in 1851 with violation of the Neutrality Act. The first case ended in nolle prosequi after three hung juries. He was acquitted in the second trial in March 1852. Served as Minister to Portugal 1854-58. During the American Civil War, he moved to Europe, propagandized for the Confederacy in three pamphlets, tried to obtain iron-clads from Sweden for the Confederate Navy, and applied for Confederate citizenship. Remained in Europe until returning to New York in 1879, where he lived obscurely until his death.
Editor. Born on a British warship at Gibraltar when his father was U.S. Consul to the Barbary states. Educated at the military school of Lorize, France, and at the Westminster School at London. Graduated from Columbia College in 1831. Practiced law in New York until 1837, when he turned to journalism. Elected as a Jacksonian Democrat to the New York state assembly 1841-42 where he sponsored a bill abolishing capital punishment. Established the New York Morning News with Samuel Tilden in 1844. After his sister Mary married Cuban planter and revolutionary Cristobal Madan in 1845, he became involved in the movement to annex the island to the U.S. That year, he coined the phrase "Manifest Destiny" while editor (1841-46) of the United States Magazine and Democratic Review to justify American expansionism. Assisted Gen. Narcisco Lopez in organizing two filibuster invasions of Cuba to liberate the island from Spanish rule. As a result, was charged with other conspirators in federal court in New Orleans in 1850 and in New York in 1851 with violation of the Neutrality Act. The first case ended in nolle prosequi after three hung juries. He was acquitted in the second trial in March 1852. Served as Minister to Portugal 1854-58. During the American Civil War, he moved to Europe, propagandized for the Confederacy in three pamphlets, tried to obtain iron-clads from Sweden for the Confederate Navy, and applied for Confederate citizenship. Remained in Europe until returning to New York in 1879, where he lived obscurely until his death.
Bio by: Antonio de la Cova
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