Statesman; born in
Exeter, N. H., Oct. 9, 1782; entered upon the practice of law about 1802, in
Zanesville, O., and at the age of twenty-five was a member of the legislature.
He was colonel of an Ohio regiment, under
General Hull, in 1812, and was with the troops surrendered at
Detroit (q. v.). In March, 1813, he was made a brigadier-general, and was volunteer aide to
General Harrison at the battle of the
Thames (q. v.), when he was appointed governor of
Michigan Territory.
As superintendent of Indian affairs in that region, he negotiated nineteen treaties with the Indians.
In 1829 he organized a scientific expedition to explore the
upper Mississippi.
In 1831 he resigned the governorship and became
Secretary of War, under
President Jackson.
From 1836 to 1842 he was
United States minister to
France, and from 1845 to 1848
United States Senator.
He received the
Democratic nomination
for
President in 1848, but was defeated, and was again in the United States Senate from 1851 to 1857, when
President Buchanan called him to his cabinet as
Secretary of State; but when the
President refused to reinforce the garrison at
Fort Sumter, he resigned.
General Cass favored the compromise of 1850, and also favored a compromise with the disunionists until they became Confederates, when he favored the supporters of the
Union.
He was author of a work entitled
France: its King, Court, and government.
He died in
Detroit, Mich., June 17, 1866.