Christopher Wolcott | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 6th Ohio Attorney General | |
| In office 1856–1861 | |
| Appointed by | Salmon P. Chase |
| Preceded by | Francis D. Kimball |
| Succeeded by | James Murray |
| United States Assistant Secretary of War | |
| In office 1862–1863 | |
| Preceded by | John Tucker |
| Succeeded by | Charles Anderson Dana |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1820-12-17)December 17, 1820 |
| Died | April 4, 1863(1863-04-04) (aged 42) |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Pamphila Stanton |
| Children | two sons |
Christopher Parsons Wolcott (1820-1863) was aRepublican politician from the state ofOhio. He wasOhio Attorney General 1856–1860 andUnited States Assistant Secretary of War from 1862 to 1863.
Wolcott was born December 17, 1820, inWolcott, Connecticut. In 1833 he was moved toSteubenville, Ohio, and attended public schools. He attendedWashington College inPennsylvania, where he graduated in 1840.[1] He read law withTappan &Stanton in Steubenville,[2] and was admitted to the bar and began practice inRavenna, Ohio. In Ravenna he partnered with Lucius V. Bierce.[2] In 1846 he moved toAkron, Ohio. In Akron he partnered with William Otis, until Otis removed to Cleveland. He then partnered withWilliam H. Upson, which lasted the rest of his life.[2] In 1856,GovernorSalmon P. Chase appointed him Ohio Attorney General to replace the deceasedFrancis D. Kimball.[3] He was elected to a two-year term later in 1856,[4] and another in 1858.[5]
His cases as attorney general included theBreslin Treasury defalcation and theWellington Rescue, where his arguments before theUnited States Supreme Court were widely celebrated.[3]
Ohio GovernorWilliam Dennison named Wolcott to replace the deceasedJohn C. Wright at thePeace Conference of 1861.[6]
In May, 1862,Secretary of War, fellow Steubenville native and Wolcott's brother in law,[7]Edwin M. Stanton asked him to be First Assistant Secretary during theAmerican Civil War.[8]
I know I ought not to ask it of you, and fear the work will kill you, but I do not know where to look for aid, and if I do not have it now, I must give up myself.
— Edwin Stanton, 1862[2]
Stanton was prophetic, as under the strain of the job, Wolcott's health gave out, leading to his resignation February, 1863. He returned to Akron. After two months of suffering, he died there April 4, 1863.[2]
