 | This article includes alist of references,related reading, orexternal links,but its sources remain unclear because it lacksinline citations. Please helpimprove this article byintroducing more precise citations.(March 2008) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Graham Newell Fitch | |
|---|---|
 | |
| United States Senator fromIndiana | |
| In office February 4, 1857 – March 3, 1861 | |
| Preceded by | John Pettit |
| Succeeded by | Henry S. Lane |
| Member of theU. S. House of Representatives fromIndiana's 9th district | |
| In office March 4, 1849 – March 3, 1853 | |
| Preceded by | Charles W. Cathcart |
| Succeeded by | Norman Eddy |
| Member of theIndiana House of Representatives | |
| In office 1836 1839 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1809-12-05)December 5, 1809 |
| Died | November 29, 1892(1892-11-29) (aged 82) |
| Political party | Democratic |
Graham Newell Fitch (December 5, 1809 – November 29, 1892) was aUnited States representative andsenator fromIndiana, as well as abrigade commander in theUnion Army during theAmerican Civil War.
Born inLe Roy, New York, he attended Middlebury Academy andGeneva College. He studied medicine and completed his medical course at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, and commenced practice inLogansport, Indiana, in 1834. He was a member of theIndiana House of Representatives in 1836 and 1839 and was a professor ofanatomy at theRush Medical College in Chicago from 1844 to 1848, and at theIndianapolis Medical College in 1878.
Fitch was elected as aDemocrat to theThirty-first andThirty-second congresses, from March 4, 1849, to March 3, 1853. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1852 and resumed the practice of medicine. He was elected to the U.S. Senate to fill a vacancy in the term beginning March 4, 1855, and sat from February 4, 1857, to March 3, 1861. He was not a candidate for reelection in 1860. While in the Senate, he was chairman of the Committee on Printing (Thirty-fifth and Thirty-sixth Congresses).
After the Civil War erupted and PresidentAbraham Lincoln called for 100,000 volunteers to put down the rebellion, Fitch raised the46th Indiana Infantry. He was itscolonel before being promoted to command of a brigade.
During the battles ofNew Madrid andIsland Number Ten, Fitch commanded the 2nd Brigade of Brigadier GeneralJohn M. Palmer's infantrydivision. He also participated in the capture ofFort Pillow andMemphis. Fitch later commanded the Union infantry forces atSaint Charles inArkansas.
In late 1862, he resigned his commission because of injuries received in action.
Fitch returned home and resumed the practice of medicine in Logansport. He died there in 1892 and was buried in Mount Hope Cemetery.
Edwin Denby, Fitch's grandson, was a U.S. representative fromMichigan andSecretary of the Navy.
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | U.S. Representative, Indiana 9th district 1849–1853 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. Senate | ||
| Preceded by | U.S. senator (Class 3) from Indiana 1857–1861 Served alongside:Jesse D. Bright | Succeeded by |
| Class 1 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 3 | ||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
