Edwin D. Morgan | |
|---|---|
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| United States Senator fromNew York | |
| In office March 4, 1863 – March 3, 1869 | |
| Preceded by | Preston King |
| Succeeded by | Reuben E. Fenton |
| 21st Governor of New York | |
| In office January 1, 1859 – December 31, 1862 | |
| Lieutenant | Robert Campbell |
| Preceded by | John Alsop King |
| Succeeded by | Horatio Seymour |
| 1st and 5th Chair of the Republican National Committee | |
| In office 1872–1876 | |
| Preceded by | William Claflin |
| Succeeded by | Zachariah Chandler |
| In office 1856–1864 | |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Henry J. Raymond |
| Member of theNew York Senate from the 6th district | |
| In office January 1, 1850 – December 31, 1853 | |
| Preceded by | William Samuel Johnson |
| Succeeded by | Erastus Brooks |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Edwin Denison Morgan (1811-02-08)February 8, 1811 |
| Died | February 14, 1883(1883-02-14) (aged 72) New York City,New York, U.S. |
| Party | Republican |
| Other political affiliations | Whig |
| Signature |  |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States Union |
| Branch/service | United States Army Union Army |
| Years of service | 1861–1863 |
| Rank |  Major General |
| Commands | Department of New York |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
Edwin Denison Morgan (February 8, 1811 – February 14, 1883) was an American politician andUnion Army general who served as the 21stgovernor of New York from 1859 to 1862 and as aUnited States senator from 1863 to 1869. He was thefirst and longest-serving chairman of theRepublican National Committee. Morgan was known for his progressive views on education, prison reform, and women's suffrage. He helped to found theRepublican Party in New York and was a strong supporter of thepresidency ofAbraham Lincoln.
In 1836 he moved toNew York City, becoming a successful wholesale grocer and bond broker. He served as an assistant alderman and member of theNew York State Senate. Originally aWhig, he was one of the founders of theRepublican Party, and he served as chairman of theRepublican National Committee from 1856 to 1864 and 1872 to 1876.
In 1858, Morgan was electedGovernor of New York, and he served from 1859 to 1862. As governor during theAmerican Civil War, Morgan supported theUnion. Appointed amajor general of volunteers in theUnion Army, he commanded the military's Department of New York while serving as governor. In 1863, he was elected to theUnited States Senate, where he served one term. He was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1869, and the unsuccessful Republican nominee for governor in 1876. Morgan had been a patron ofChester A. Arthur at the start of Arthur's career; when Arthur became president, he nominated Morgan asUnited States Secretary of the Treasury. Morgan was confirmed by the Senate, but declined on the grounds of age and ill health. Morgan died in New York City in 1883, and was buried in Connecticut.
Morgan was born on February 8, 1811, inWashington, Massachusetts, to Jasper and Catherine (Copp) Morgan.[1] The family moved toWindsor, Connecticut, where Morgan received his early education before attendingBacon Academy inColchester.[2] Edwin Morgan was a cousin ofMorgan G. Bulkeley, theGovernor of Connecticut from 1889 to 1893. In addition, he was a cousin of CongressmenEdwin B. Morgan andChristopher Morgan.[3]
He began his business career as a grocer inHartford, Connecticut. He became a partner with his uncle and served on the city council. In 1836, he moved to New York City and became a successful wholesaler, broker and banker.
In 1843, Morgan organized E.D. Morgan & Company, an import house, in partnership with George D. Morgan, his cousin, and Frederick Avery, who left the firm a year later and was replaced byJohn T. Terry. Solon Humphreys was taken in as a full partner in 1854 after working several years as an agent in St. Louis, Missouri. Largely through his connections, the firm became the principal agent for Missouri securities. Nearly two-thirds of the bonds issued by the State of Missouri from 1835 to 1860, plus a large share of securities of St. Louis, were sold through the house of Morgan – in all perhaps thirty million dollars' worth. All the while the firm maintained its wholesale grocery trade.[2]
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In 1849, Morgan was elected as a member of the New York City Board of Assistant Aldermen. He made a name for himself as chairman of the Sanitary Committee during the cholera epidemic of 1848.[2] He was also a member of theNew York State Senate from 1850 to 1853, and State Commissioner of Immigration.[4]
Morgan became highly influential inRepublican politics of his time and twice served as chairman of theRepublican National Committee, 1856 to 1864 and 1872 to 1876.[4]
From 1859 until 1862, he served asGovernor of New York, elected in1858 and1860. He was appointedmajor general of volunteers in September 1861 and commanded the Department of New York until he resigned on January 3, 1863, serving simultaneously as governor and head of the military department.[5]
InFebruary 1863, he was elected to the U.S. Senate, and served one term until 1869. InJanuary 1869, he sought re-nomination, but was voted down by the Republican caucus of State legislators who instead nominated Ex-GovernorReuben E. Fenton. In1876, Morgan ran again for Governor but was defeated by DemocratLucius Robinson.
In 1881, Morgan was nominated by PresidentChester A. Arthur asTreasury Secretary and was confirmed by the Senate, but declined the position.[6]: 255
In 1833, he married Eliza Matilda Waterman (b. 1810), daughter of Henry Waterman (1782–1854). Together, they had:
Known for generous contributions to charities and causes, he contributed large sums to theUnion Theological Seminary.[5]
Morgan died in New York City on February 14, 1883.[8] He was buried at theCedar Hill Cemetery in Hartford.[5][9]
Through his son Edwin, he was a grandfather ofEdwin Denison Morgan III (1854–1933), who married Elizabeth Mary Moran.[7] Through his grandson, he was the 2x great-grandfather ofEdwin D. Morgan (1921–2001), businessman andPioneer Fund director from 2000 to 2001.[10]
| New York State Senate | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | New York State Senate 6th District 1850–1853 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Governor of New York 1859–1862 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | U.S. senator (Class 1) from New York 1863–1869 Served alongside:Ira Harris andRoscoe Conkling | Succeeded by |
| Party political offices | ||
| New title | Chairman of theRepublican National Committee 1856–1864 | Succeeded by |
| New title | Chairman of theNew York Republican State Committee 1856–1858 | Succeeded by James Kelly |
| Preceded by | Republican nominee forGovernor of New York 1858,1860 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Chairman of theRepublican National Committee 1872–1876 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Chairman of theNew York Republican State Committee 1874–1875 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Republican nominee forGovernor of New York 1876 | Succeeded by |
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| Class 3 | ||
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