Edward Hempstead | |
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| Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives from theMissouri Territory's at-large district | |
| In office November 9, 1812 – September 17, 1814 | |
| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Succeeded by | Rufus Easton |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1780-06-03)June 3, 1780 New London, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Died | August 10, 1817(1817-08-10) (aged 37) St. Louis,Missouri, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic-Republican |
Edward Hempstead (June 3, 1780 – August 10, 1817) was an American lawyer, pioneer, and one of the early settlers in the newLouisiana Purchase in 1805. Born inNew London, Connecticut, Hempstead was the delegate in theU.S. House for theMissouri Territory from 1812 to 1814. He served as territorial attorney general in Upper Louisiana and in the Missouri Territorial Legislature. He is the older brother ofCharles S. Hempstead, the first Mayor ofGalena, Illinois.
Hempstead was raised inHebron, Connecticut, where he studied under Rev. Amos Basset. He studied law under Sylvester Gilbert when he was eighteen and was licensed in 1801. He practiced for a year inMiddlesex County, Connecticut, then two years inNewport, Rhode Island, then was admitted to the bar. He moved toVincennes,Indiana Territory, in 1804. There, he befriendedWilliam Henry Harrison, and assisted with Harrison's government of theDistrict of Louisiana. When Harrison was replaced withJames Wilkinson, Hempstead resigned and moved toSt. Louis. Hempstead later served with other Governors of the Louisiana and Missouri Territory, including attorney general.[1]
In 1812, theTerritory of Missouri (renamed to avoid confusion withLouisiana) became entitled to adelegate to Congress. Hempstead was elected and served a two-year term, declining re-election. He returned to private law practice. Hempstead alter served in the Missouri Territory General Assembly, rising to Speaker of the House.[1] After Edward's election, his younger brotherCharles S. Hempstead was forced to move to Illinois.
Hempstead died at his home outside ofSt. Louis, Missouri on August 10, 1817, six days after an accident in which he was thrown from his horse. He was buried on his farm, on a plot which later became part ofBellefontaine Cemetery. Hempstead's grave is thus among the oldest in the entire cemetery.Hempstead County, Arkansas, is named in his honor.[2]
Hempstead was friends withThomas Hart Benton. Benton later said that he thought Hempstead would have become Missouri's first senator, had he lived long enough. Benton was with Hempstead when he died and spent the wake with his body. When Benton came home from the wake Benton received a challenge to aduel withCharles Lucas following a dispute over a court case. Benton replied that he would meet Lucas as soon as Hempstead was buried. The two went on to fight two duels, with Benton ultimately killing Lucas.[3]
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
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| New constituency | Delegate to theU.S. House of Representatives from theMissouri Territory's at-large congressional district 1812–1814 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
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| National | |
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