Lewis Cass
Lewis Cass (October 9, 1782 – June 17, 1866) was an American military officer, politician, and statesman. He represented Michigan in the United States Senate. He was in the Cabinets of two U.S. Presidents, Andrew Jackson and James Buchanan. He was also the 1848 Democratic presidential nominee. He was an important person for the idea of Popular Sovereignty. That idea said that the people in each territory should decide whether to allow slavery.
Lewis Cass | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 22nd United States Secretary of State | |
| In office March 6, 1857 – December 14, 1860 | |
| President | James Buchanan |
| Preceded by | William Marcy |
| Succeeded by | Jeremiah Black |
| President pro tempore of the United States Senate | |
| In office December 4, 1854 – December 5, 1854 | |
| Preceded by | David Atchison |
| Succeeded by | Jesse Bright |
| United States Senator from Michigan | |
| In office March 4, 1849 – March 3, 1857 | |
| Preceded by | Thomas Fitzgerald |
| Succeeded by | Zachariah Chandler |
| In office March 4, 1845 – May 29, 1848 | |
| Preceded by | Augustus Porter |
| Succeeded by | Thomas Fitzgerald |
| United States Ambassador to France | |
| In office December 1, 1836 – November 12, 1842 | |
| President | Andrew Jackson |
| Preceded by | Edward Livingston |
| Succeeded by | William King |
| 14th United States Secretary of War | |
| In office August 1, 1831 – October 4, 1836 | |
| President | Andrew Jackson |
| Preceded by | Roger B. Taney (Acting) |
| Succeeded by | Joel Poinsett |
| 2nd Governor of the Michigan Territory | |
| In office October 13, 1813 – August 1, 1831 | |
| Appointed by | James Madison |
| Preceded by | William Hull |
| Succeeded by | George Porter |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 9, 1782 Exeter, New Hampshire, U.S. |
| Died | June 17, 1866 (aged 83) Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Eliza Spencer (m. 1806; her death 1853) |
| Signature |  |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1812–1814 |
| Rank | Brigadier General |
| Battles/wars | War of 1812 |
Life
He was born in Exeter, New Hampshire.
Career
In 1806, Cass was elected to the Ohio House of Representatives. Also in 1806, President Thomas Jefferson chose Cass to be the U.S. Marshal for Ohio.[1]
Secretary of War
On August 1, 1831, Cass quit being governor of the Michigan Territory to be the Secretary of War under President Andrew Jackson. He would be the secretary until 1836.[2]
References
- "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: Lewis Cass (1782–1866)". Office of the Historian. U.S. State Department. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
- "Lewis Cass - People - Department History". history.state.gov. Office of the Historian, Bureau of Public Affairs United States Department of State. Retrieved 23 June 2019.