Politician; born in
Sumner county, Tenn., Oct. 9, 1805; acquired a classical education; and for a time studied law, and later entered the medical department at Transylvania University, where he took his degree in 1828.
He went to
Clinton, Miss., and practised there till 1833, when he was appointed United States marshal for the Mississippi district.
In 1840 he was elected to Congress by the Democratic party.
He refused a renomination, and was later appointed to superintend the construction of the new custom-house at New Orleans.
In 1849 he removed to
California, and in September served in the convention at
Monterey called to draw up a constitution.
In December he became a
United States Senator, and during his term secured a survey of the
Pacific coast, a mint in
San Francisco, a navy-yard (
Mare Island), and got a bill passed for the establishment of a line of steamers between
San Francisco,
Japan, and
China.
He was re-elected, but when the
Civil War began was accused of disloyalty, arrested, and imprisoned till 1863, when he was released.
He interested the
Emperor of
France in a plan to colonize
Sonora, Mexico, with Confederates.
It is alleged that the
French minister of foreign affairs encouraged him to draft a scheme for the colony, which, after meeting the approbation of the
Emperor, was given into the hands of Emperor Maximilian.
After the latter had been in
Mexico two years,
Dr. Gwin also went there, but received no promises of support from
Maximilian in his colonization plans.
Returning to
France in 1865 he again laid the matter before Napoleon, at whose solicitation he returned to
Mexico with orders to
Marshal Bazaine to provide whatever force was necessary to make his plans successful.
Dr. Gwin, however, received no encouragement and returned to
California.
He engaged actively in politics, and in 1876 supported
Samuel J. Tilden for
President.
He was for many
[
190]
years known as “
Duke Gwin, of
Sonora.”
He died in New York City, Sept. 3, 1885.
