Edwin D. Morgan

Edwin Denison Morgan (February 8, 1811 – February 14, 1883) was the 21st governor of New York from 1859 to 1862 and served in the United States Senate from 1863 to 1869. He was the first and longest-serving chairman of the Republican National Committee. He was also a Union Army general during the American Civil War. Morgan was known for his progressive views on education, prison reform, and women's suffrage. He helped to found the Republican Party in New York and was a strong supporter of the Presidency of Abraham Lincoln.

This article is about the New York politician. For other people with the same name, see Edwin Morgan (disambiguation).
Edwin D. Morgan
United States Senator
from New York
In office
March 4, 1863 – March 3, 1869
Preceded byPreston King
Succeeded byReuben E. Fenton
21st Governor of New York
In office
January 1, 1859 – December 31, 1862
LieutenantRobert Campbell
Preceded byJohn Alsop King
Succeeded byHoratio Seymour
1st and 5th Chairman of the Republican National Committee
In office
1872–1876
Preceded byWilliam Claflin
Succeeded byZachariah Chandler
In office
1856–1864
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byHenry J. Raymond
Member of the New York Senate
from the 6th district
In office
January 1, 1850 – December 31, 1853
Preceded byWilliam Samuel Johnson
Succeeded byErastus Brooks
Personal details
Born
Edwin Denison Morgan

(1811-02-08)February 8, 1811
Washington, Massachusetts, U.S.
DiedFebruary 14, 1883(1883-02-14) (aged 72)
New York City, New York, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Other political
affiliations		Whig
Signature
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Union
Branch/serviceUnited States Army
Union Army
Years of service1861–1863
Rank Major General
CommandsDepartment of New York
Battles/warsAmerican Civil War

In 1836 he moved to New York City, becoming a successful wholesale grocer and bond broker. He served as an assistant alderman and member of the New York State Senate. Originally a Whig, he was one of the founders of the Republican Party, and he served as chairman of the Republican National Committee from 1856 to 1864 and 1872 to 1876.

In 1858, Morgan was elected Governor of New York, and he served from 1859 to 1862. As governor during the American Civil War, Morgan supported the Union. Appointed a major general of volunteers in the Union Army, he commanded the military's Department of New York while serving as governor. In 1863, he was elected to the United States Senate, where he served one term. He was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1869, and the unsuccessful Republican nominee for governor in 1876. Morgan had been a patron of Chester A. Arthur at the start of Arthur's career; when Arthur became president, he nominated Morgan as United States Secretary of the Treasury. Morgan was confirmed by the Senate, but declined on the grounds of age and ill health. Morgan died in New York City in 1883, and was buried in Connecticut.

Early life

Morgan was born on February 8, 1811, in Washington, Massachusetts, to Jasper and Catherine (Copp) Morgan.[1] The family moved to Windsor, Connecticut, where Morgan received his early education before attending Bacon Academy in Colchester.[2] Edwin Morgan was a cousin of Morgan G. Bulkeley, the Governor of Connecticut from 1889 to 1893. In addition, he was a cousin of Congressmen Edwin B. Morgan and Christopher Morgan.[3]

Career

He began his business career as a grocer in Hartford, Connecticut. He became a partner with his uncle and served on the city council. In 1836, he moved to New York City and became a successful wholesaler, broker and banker.

In 1843, Morgan organized E.D. Morgan & Company, an import house, in partnership with George D. Morgan, his cousin, and Frederick Avery, who left the firm a year later and was replaced by John T. Terry. Solon Humphreys was taken in as a full partner in 1854 after working several years as an agent in St. Louis, Missouri. Largely through his connections, the firm became the principal agent for Missouri securities. Nearly two-thirds of the bonds issued by the State of Missouri from 1835 to 1860, plus a large share of securities of St. Louis, were sold through the house of Morgan – in all perhaps thirty million dollars worth. All the while the firm maintained its wholesale grocery trade.[2]

Political career
Gubernatorial portrait of New York Governor Edwin D. Morgan.

In 1849, Morgan was elected as a member of the New York City Board of Assistant Aldermen. He made a name for himself as chairman of the Sanitary Committee during the cholera epidemic of 1848.[2] He was also a member of the New York State Senate from 1850 to 1853, and State Commissioner of Immigration.[4]

Morgan became highly influential in Republican politics of his time and twice served as chairman of the Republican National Committee, 1856 to 1864 and 1872 to 1876.[4]

From 1859 until 1862, he served as Governor of New York, elected in 1858 and 1860. He was appointed major general of volunteers in September 1861 and commanded the Department of New York until he resigned on January 3, 1863, serving simultaneously as governor and head of the military department.[5]

In February 1863, he was elected to the U.S. Senate, and served one term until 1869. In January 1869, he sought re-nomination, but was voted down by the Republican caucus of State legislators who instead nominated Ex-Governor Reuben E. Fenton. In 1876, Morgan ran again for Governor but was defeated by Democrat Lucius Robinson.

In 1881, Morgan was nominated by President Chester A. Arthur as Treasury Secretary and was confirmed by the Senate, but declined the position.[6]: 255 

Personal life

In 1833, he married Eliza Matilda Waterman (b. 1810), daughter of Henry Waterman (1782–1854). Together, they had:

  • Edwin Denison Morgan, M.D. (1834–1879), who married Sarah Elizabeth Archer, daughter of Thomas Archer.[7]
  • Frederick Avery Morgan (1838–1841), died young
  • Gilbert Henry Morgan (1843–1843), died young
  • Caroline Matilda Morgan (1846–1847), died young
  • Alfred Waterman Morgan (1847–1848), died young

Known for generous contributions to charities and causes, he contributed large sums to the Union Theological Seminary.[5]

Morgan died in New York City on February 14, 1883.[8] He was buried at the Cedar Hill Cemetery in Hartford.[5][9]

Descendants

Through his son Edwin, he was a grandfather of Edwin Denison Morgan III (1854–1933), who married Elizabeth Mary Moran.[7] Through his grandson, he was the 2x great-grandfather of Edwin D. Morgan (1921–2001), businessman and Pioneer Fund director from 2000 to 2001.[10]

See also

Notes
  1. Morgan, Freeman E. (Freeman Ernest); Morgan, Nathaniel H. (Nathaniel Harris) (1998). "Updated Morgan genealogy : a history of James Morgan, of New London, Connecticut, and his descendants, from 1607 to 1997". Bowie, Md. : Heritage Books – via Internet Archive.
  2. "Edwin D. Morgan Papers, 1833–1883 (finding aid)". New York State Library Website. New York State Library. Retrieved January 4, 2016.
  3. Archives and Special Collections (2011). Biographical Note, E. B. Morgan Collection (PDF). Aurora, Cayuga County, NY: Wells College. p. 2.
  4. Reeves, Thomas C. (1975). Gentleman Boss. NY, NY: Alfred A. Knopf. pp. 19. ISBN 0-394-46095-2.
  5. Eicher, John H., and David J. Eicher, Civil War High Commands. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2001. ISBN 0-8047-3641-3. p. 397
  6. Reeves, Thomas C. (1975). Gentleman Boss. NY, NY: Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN 0-394-46095-2.
  7. "E. D. MORGAN DIES; FAMED YACHTSMAN; Member of Successful Group That Time After Time Sent Lipton Back Without Cup. OWNER OF MANY VESSELS The Columbia and Gloriana Among Them—Former Commodore of New York Yacht Club" (PDF). The New York Times. June 14, 1933. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
  8. "Edwin D. Morgan" (PDF). The New York Times. February 15, 1883. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
  9. Edwin Denison Morgan, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
  10. "The Founders". Archived from the original on November 30, 2012. Retrieved November 6, 2012.

References

Further reading
  • Rawley, James A. Edwin D. Morgan 1811–1883 (Columbia University Press, 1955). Scholarly biography; online
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