Stewart L. Woodford | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 31stUnited States Minister to Spain | |
| In office June 19, 1897 – April 21, 1898 | |
| President | William McKinley |
| Preceded by | Hannis Taylor |
| Succeeded by | Bellamy Storer |
| United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York | |
| In office January 24, 1877 – March 12, 1883 | |
| President | |
| Preceded by | George Bliss, Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Elihu Root |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromNew York's3rd district | |
| In office March 4, 1873 – July 1, 1874 | |
| Preceded by | Henry Warner Slocum |
| Succeeded by | Simeon B. Chittenden |
| Lieutenant Governor of New York | |
| In office January 1, 1867 – December 31, 1868 | |
| Governor | Reuben Fenton |
| Preceded by | Thomas G. Alvord |
| Succeeded by | Allen C. Beach |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1835-09-03)September 3, 1835 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | February 14, 1913(1913-02-14) (aged 77) New York City, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Alma mater | Columbia University |
| Occupation | Attorney |
| Signature |  |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Union |
| Branch/service | Union Army |
| Years of service | 1862–1865 |
| Rank |  Colonel BrevetBrigadier General |
| Commands | 103rd U.S. Colored Infantry Regiment |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
Stewart Lyndon Woodford (September 3, 1835 – February 14, 1913) was an American attorney andpolitician who served as a member of theUnited States House of Representatives and thelieutenant governor of New York.[1]
Born inNew York City, Woodford graduated fromColumbia University in 1854, studied law, and attained admission to the bar. Becoming active in politics as aRepublican, he served as Assistant United States Attorney for New York's Southern District from 1861 until volunteering for theUnion Army in 1862. Woodford took part in theAmerican Civil War as chief of staff toQuincy A. Gillmore, commander of theDepartment of the South, and as commander of the 103rd Colored Infantry Regiment. He attained the rank of colonel and thebrevet rank of brigadier general.
Woodford ran successfully for lieutenant governor in 1866 and served from 1867 to 1868. After losing the 1870 race for governor, in 1872, Woodford was elected to the U.S. House, and he served a partial term. From 1877 to 1883, he served asUnited States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and he served as Minister to Spain from 1897 until the start of hostilities during theSpanish–American War. Woodford died in New York City in 1913, and was buried inStamford, Connecticut.
He studied atYale University and Columbia College, nowColumbia University. He graduated from Columbia in 1854, and was a member ofSt. Anthony Hall.[1] He then studied law, awas admitted to the bar in 1857, and commenced practice in New York City.
In 1860, he was chosen as the messenger of theelectoral college for New York state to convey toWashington, D.C. its vote in favor of thepresidency ofAbraham Lincoln. In 1861, he was appointed U.S. assistant district attorney for theU.S. Southern District of New York. He held this office for approximately 18 months.
In 1862, during theAmerican Civil War, he joined theUnion Army as a volunteer, serving until 1865, during which time he became in succession chief of staff to Gen.Quincy A. Gillmore in the Department of the South, and military commandant ofCharleston, South Carolina, andSavannah, Georgia. He became colonel of the 103rd Regiment of U.S. Colored Infantry. On January 13, 1866, U.S. PresidentAndrew Johnson nominated Woodford for the award of the honorary grade ofbrevetbrigadier general of volunteers, to rank from May 12, 1865, and theU. S. Senate confirmed the award on March 12, 1866.[2]
He was theLieutenant Governor of New York from 1867 to 1868, elected in1866 on theRepublican ticket with GovernorReuben E. Fenton. In1870, Woodford was the Republican candidate for Governor but was defeated by the incumbent DemocratJohn T. Hoffman.
In 1872, he was elected as a Republican to the43rd United States Congress and served from March 4, 1873, to July 1, 1874. Also in 1872 he was chosen to be a presidential elector.
He wasU.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York from 1877 to 1883.
In June 1897, PresidentWilliam McKinley appointed Woodford to the post ofEnvoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Spain. Spain severed diplomatic relations with the U.S. on April 21, 1898, and Woodford left his post the same day. The United States declared war on Spain as of that date by Act of Congress approved on April 25, 1898.
He died from heart disease at his home in New York City on February 14, 1913, and was interred in Woodland Cemetery inStamford, Connecticut.[3]
General Woodford was a companion of the New York Commandery of theMilitary Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States and was also a member of theGeneral Society of Colonial Wars. While a member of the Military Order of Foreign Wars in New York, he proposed COL Teddy Roosevelt for membership. He also served as the second Governor General of theOrder of the Founders and Patriots of America from 1898 to 1900.[4]
| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Republican nominee forGovernor of New York 1870 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Lieutenant Governor of New York 1867–1868 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromNew York's 3rd congressional district 1873–1874 | Succeeded by |
| Legal offices | ||
| Preceded by George Bliss, Jr. | United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York 1877–1883 | Succeeded by |
| Diplomatic posts | ||
| Preceded by | United States Minister to Spain 1897–1898 | Succeeded by |
| Ministers Plenipotentiary to Spain (1779–1825) | |
|---|---|
| Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Spain (1825–1913) | |
| Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Spain (1913–present) | |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
