Caleb Lyon | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 2nd Governor ofIdaho Territory | |
| In office 1864–1865 | |
| Preceded by | William H. Wallace |
| Succeeded by | David W. Ballard |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromNew York's23rd district | |
| In office March 4, 1853 – March 3, 1855 | |
| Preceded by | Leander Babcock |
| Succeeded by | William A. Gilbert |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1822-12-07)December 7, 1822 |
| Died | September 8, 1875(1875-09-08) (aged 52) |
| Resting place | Greenwood Cemetery |
| Party | Independent (1850s),Republican (1860s) |
Caleb Lyon (December 7, 1822 – September 8, 1875) was a19th-century American politician who served one term in the U.S.. House of Representatives from New York from 1853 to 1855 and later became Governor ofIdaho Territory from 1864 to 1865 during the last half of theAmerican Civil War.
Caleb Lyon was the son of Marietta Henrietta Dupont (1788–1869) and Caleb Lyon (1761–1835). In 1841, he married Mary Ann Springsteen. They had a son Caleb (b. 1842) and a daughter Henrietta Frederica (b. 1843).
He attended and graduated from the American Literary, Scientific and Military Academy (laterNorwich University), Class of 1841.[1][2]
In 1847, he was appointed US Consul to Shanghai, but never made it to China – instead he moved to California, and was credited as the designer of theCalifornia State Seal adopted in 1849, although the actual design was byRobert S. Garnett.[3]
Lyon was an Independent member of theNew York State Assembly (Lewis Co.) in 1851. He resigned his seat on April 26, and was elected to theNew York State Senate on May 27, serving during the74th New York State Legislature's special session in June/July 1851.
Lyon was elected as an Independent to the33rd United States Congress, holding office from March 4, 1853, to March 3, 1855.
Appointed by President Abraham Lincoln in 1864, as Governor ofIdaho Territory, Lyon proved to be extremely unpopular. One journalist wrote he was "a conceited, peculiar man, who made many enemies and misappropriated much of the public funds."[citation needed]
During Lyon's administration, the territorial capital was moved fromLewiston toBoise, reputedly because Lyon thought it was better to have the capital in a larger city.
Lyon started a diamond-prospecting frenzy when he claimed that a prospector had found a diamond nearRuby City, Idaho. Although hundreds of men staked claims, no genuine diamonds were found as a result.[4]
In 1866, an audit showed that Lyon had embezzled $46,418 in federal funds which were intended for theNez Perce people. He was never convicted on any charges.[5]
After Lyon's governorship ended, he returned to his home in Rossville, Staten Island, New York,[6] where he purchased a home known as "Ross Castle" in 1859.[7] A small collection of Lyon's papers is preserved by theStaten Island Historical Society atHistoric Richmond Town in New York, along with various artifacts associated with the Lyon family.[8]
He died on September 8, 1875, and is interred atGreenwood Cemetery, Brooklyn, Kings County, New York, US.[9]
| New York State Assembly | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | New York State Assembly Lewis County 1851 | Succeeded by |
| New York State Senate | ||
| Preceded by | New York State Senate 21st District 1851 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromNew York's 23rd congressional district 1853–1855 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Governor of Idaho Territory 1864–1866 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
