Biography

He attended the common schools and taught school, but moved to Detroit, MI in 1833, where he engaged in mercantile pursuits. He was both a strong supporter of the Underground Railroad and involved with the Michigan/Detroit routes of the Underground Railroad. Elected mayor of Detroit in 1851 and was an unsuccessful Whig candidate for Michigan Governor in 1852. He was prominent in the organization of the Republican Party in 1854 and was elected as a Republican to the US Senate in 1857. He reelected in 1863 and again in 1869, serving in total from 1857-1875. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1874. He was appointed Secretary of the Interior by President Grant from 1875 to 1877 and was chairman of the Republican National Executive Committee from 1868 to 1876. He was again elected in 1879 to the US Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of MI Senator Isaac Christiancy, serving from 1879 until his death.

He was often referred to as a more radical Republican. During the Civil War, he was a member of the Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War. He used his strong personality, ideals, and wealth to gain power and oppose slavery. He was not a strong supporter of Lincoln, but was influential during Lincoln's time in office.