Biography
A Delegate and a Senator from Oregon; born in Buncombe County, N.C., December 14, 1801; moved with his parents to Henderson, Ky., in 1810; attended the common schools; worked in a general store; moved to Vanderburg County, Ind., in 1821 and farmed; elected to the first of several terms in the State house of representatives in 1822; member, State senate 1844-1846; during the Mexican War, led a brigade in several battles; brevetted major general in 1847; appointed by President James Polk to be governor of the Territory of Oregon 1849-1850, when he resigned; unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1852; elected as a Delegate from the Territory to the Thirty-second and to the three succeeding Congresses and served from June 21, 1851, until February 14, 1859, when the Territory became a State; upon the admission of Oregon as a State into the Union in 1859 was elected as a Democrat to the United States Senate and served from February 14, 1859, to March 3, 1861; did not seek reelection in 1860, having become a candidate for Vice President; chairman, Committee on Engrossed Bills (Thirty-sixth Congress), Committee on Revolutionary Claims (Thirty-sixth Congress); unsuccessful candidate for Vice President of the United States on the Democratic ticket in 1860; died in Roseburg, Oreg., April 19, 1881; interment in the Masonic Cemetery.Courtesy of Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
