Edward A. Hannegan | |
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| United States Senator fromIndiana | |
| In office March 4, 1843 – March 3, 1849 | |
| Preceded by | Oliver H. Smith |
| Succeeded by | James Whitcomb |
| Member of theU. S. House of Representatives fromIndiana's 7th district | |
| In office March 4, 1833 – March 3, 1837 | |
| Preceded by | District created |
| Succeeded by | Albert S. White |
| Indiana House of Representatives | |
| In office 1832–1833 | |
| In office 1841–1842 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1807-06-25)June 25, 1807 Hamilton County, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | February 25, 1859(1859-02-25) (aged 51) St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic-Republican Democrat |
| Spouse | Mary Chambers Duncan |
| Profession | Lawyer Schoolteacher |
Edward Allen Hannegan (June 25, 1807 – February 25, 1859) was an American lawyer and politician fromIndiana, serving two terms as aUnited States representative from 1833 to 1837, and one term as aU.S. Senator from 1843 to 1849.
Born inHamilton County, Ohio, he moved with his parents toBourbon County, Kentucky, the same year.[1] He attended the public schools, studied law atTransylvania University, taught school, and worked as a farm hand. Hannegan moved toFountain County, Indiana, about 1825 where he worked as a farm hand and as a school teacher. He was admitted to thebar in April 1828 in Fountain County.[2] Moving the following year, he was admitted to practice law inWarren County, Indiana, on May 27, 1829, settling inWilliamsport. A few months later, he moved toCovington, where he continued the practice of law.[3] At some unknown time, Hannegan became aFreemason.[4] On April 4, 1829, he married Margaret Chambers Duncan inKnox County, Indiana;[5] they had one son, Sellman Key Hannegan, born January 20, 1832.[6]
Hannegan was a member of theIndiana House of Representatives 1832–1833 and 1841–1842. He was elected as aDemocrat to the Twenty-third and Twenty-fourth Congresses, serving from March 4, 1833 – March 4, 1837. Hannegan was not a candidate for renomination in 1836 and resumed the practice of law; he was elected as a Democrat to the U.S. Senate in 1842 and served from March 4, 1843, to March 4, 1849. He was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1849, losing to GovernorJames Whitcomb.
While in the Senate, he was chairman of the Committee on Private Land Claims (Twenty-ninth Congress) and a member of the Committee on Roads and Canals (Twenty-ninth and Thirtieth Congresses) and the Committee on Foreign Relations (Thirtieth Congress).
He was appointed by PresidentJames K. PolkUnited States Minister toPrussia March 29, 1849, and served 1849–1850.The Queen consort ofKing Frederick William IV became infatuated with Hannegan. During a court function, Hannegan broke custom and kissed the hand of the queen. Irate and possibly jealous, King Frederick Wilhelm IV requested that Hannegan be recalled.[7]
Upon his return to the United States, Hannegan resumed his law practice in Covington.
On August 5, 1838, Hannegan received a commission as a colonel in the Indiana militia.[8] He was stationed atFort Plymouth due to conflict with the localPotawatomi who were being forced to leave Indiana forOsawatomie in theKansas Territory. This event became known as theTrail of Death because more than 40 of the 850 tribal members died on the march.
Hannegan was an alcoholic from a young age. On the night of May 6, 1852, his brother-in-law,Captain John R. Duncan, who had served honorably in theMexican–American War and with whom he and his wife lived, confronted Hannegan about his heavy drinking out of concern for Hannegan's political future. Hannegan's wife took him by the arm and attempted to take him upstairs away from the argument. Hannegan grabbed a nearby cane dagger and mortally wounded Duncan by stabbing him in the neck to the hilt of the dagger.[9] Duncan died the following day, declaring that no blame should be placed on Hannegan.[10]
Hannegan was arrested and charged with manslaughter. At the time,Lew Wallace was the prosecuting attorney for Covington; he was also a close friend of Hannegan. Because Wallace's prosecution was so weak and Hannegan was permitted to present his case (an unusual practice), the grand jury refused to indict Hannegan. Wallace was heavily criticized by the community for his prosecution and forced to resign and move toCrawfordsville.Daniel W. Voorhees was then appointed to replace Wallace. Despite the evidence, Voorhees decided not present the case to the grand jury, and he too was forced to leave Covington. The case was dismissed by Judge Isaac Naylor, September 18, 1852.
Hannegan continued to practice law in Covington until 1857 when he moved toSt. Louis, Missouri, where his son was already living. He practiced law there for two years and was preparing to reenter politics. Hannegan's wife preceded him in death and he continued drinking and developed amorphine habit. He was the keynote speaker at a political rally on February 24, 1859, promoting the candidacy ofStephen A. Douglas for president. Hannegan was intoxicated and under the influence ofmorphine when he delivered the address, which was poorly received.[11] Derided and ridiculed for his performance, Hannegan returned to his room where heoverdosed on morphine, his body being discovered the following day.[12] Interment was in Woodlawn Cemetery,Terre Haute, Indiana.
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by New district | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromIndiana's 7th congressional district March 4, 1833 – March 4, 1837 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. Senate | ||
| Preceded by | U.S. senator (Class 3) from Indiana March 4, 1843 – March 4, 1849 Served alongside:Albert S. White,Jesse D. Bright | Succeeded by |
| Diplomatic posts | ||
| Preceded by | United States Ambassador to Germany June 30, 1849 – January 13, 1850 | Succeeded by |
| Minister Plenipotentiary |  | |
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| Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary | ||
| Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary | ||
| Class 1 |  | |
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| Class 3 | ||
| International | |
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| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
