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Cass, Lewis 1782-1866

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

Lewis Cass.

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.

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