Today in history: Edwin M. Stanton named Secretary of War

steemizen (69)in #history • 8 years ago

Hello Steemians!

Welcome to today's episode of the "Today in History" serial, where I bring you daily historical facts and events of the current date.

On January 13, 1862, president Lincoln named Edwin M. Stanton Secretary of War.

Edwin M. Stanton

Edwin McMasters Stanton was born on December 19, 1814, in Steubenville, Ohio.

Steubenville, Ohio.

He was an American politician and lawyer who played a major role in the American Civil War.

He began his career as a lawyer in January 1836 when he began working in a law firm in Cadiz for Chauncey Dewey, a well known lawyer at that time.

Cadiz, 1940.

In 1860. he helped formulating President Buchanan's writing of the Yearly State of the Union to the Congress, which was his first political "involvement".

James Buchanan

He was a short time advisor of Simon Cameron, Secretary of War before Stanton, and then became Secretary of War himself on January 13, 1862, after Lincoln fired Cameron.

Simon Cameron

In the American Civil War, Edwin Stanton organized massive military resources of the North and thus played a key role in leading the Union to the victory .

On March 11 he got named general-in-chief by Lincoln, replacing George Brinton McClellan.

George Brinton McClellan

After President Lincoln was assassinated he kept serving as Secretary of War with the new President Andrew Johnson during the Reconstruction years.

President Andrew Johnson

He ended his duty as Secretary of War on May 28, 1868, succeeded by John McAllister Schofield.

John McAllister Schofield

In 1869. Stanton was nominated as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court by Ulysses S. Grant, but died December 24, 1869, just four days after his nomination was confirmed by the Senate.

Edwin M. Stanton