US Congressman. Born in Auburn, New York, he ran a small wool mill in Ithaca before moving to Indiana in 1832. He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1834, and settled as a lawyer in Evansville. His first public office was as Evansville City Clerk (1836 to 1837), followed by posts as prosecuting attorney for Vanderburg County (1841 to 1845) and as a judge of the Fourth Judicial District (1846 to 1851). During the 1850 State Constitutional Convention, Lockhart emerged as the Democratic Party frontrunner for a seat in the US House of Representatives and was subsequently elected to the Thirty-Second Congress, representing Indiana's 1st District; he served from 1851 to 1853. He did not seek reelection, instead returning to Evansville to supervise the construction of the Marine Hospital under appointment by President Pierce. Upon its completion in 1856 Lockhart ran again for the US House and was elected to the Thirty-Fifth Congress. By then his health was failing and he served only six months of his second term before his death in Evansville. There is a cenotaph in his memory at Congressional Cemetery in Washington, DC.
US Congressman. Born in Auburn, New York, he ran a small wool mill in Ithaca before moving to Indiana in 1832. He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1834, and settled as a lawyer in Evansville. His first public office was as Evansville City Clerk (1836 to 1837), followed by posts as prosecuting attorney for Vanderburg County (1841 to 1845) and as a judge of the Fourth Judicial District (1846 to 1851). During the 1850 State Constitutional Convention, Lockhart emerged as the Democratic Party frontrunner for a seat in the US House of Representatives and was subsequently elected to the Thirty-Second Congress, representing Indiana's 1st District; he served from 1851 to 1853. He did not seek reelection, instead returning to Evansville to supervise the construction of the Marine Hospital under appointment by President Pierce. Upon its completion in 1856 Lockhart ran again for the US House and was elected to the Thirty-Fifth Congress. By then his health was failing and he served only six months of his second term before his death in Evansville. There is a cenotaph in his memory at Congressional Cemetery in Washington, DC.
Bio by: Bobb Edwards
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