biography
| sex:
| male
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| lived:
| (1782–1866)
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| biography:
| US soldier, senator, and public official, born in Exeter, New Hampshire, USA. He practised law in Ohio and served with distinction in the War of 1812, rising to brigadier-general. He became military and civil governor of the Michigan Territory (1813–31) and secretary of war to President Andrew Jackson (1831–6), and in both offices spent much time dealing with native Americans. He was appointed ambassador to France (1836–42) and served as a US Senator (Democrat, Michigan, 1845–8, 1849–57). A strong nationalist, he favoured the Mexican War and was the unsuccessful Democratic nominee for the US presidency in 1848. As secretary of state (1857–60) he secured from Great Britain an end to all search and seizure rights at sea. He resigned when President James Buchanan refused to respond decisively to South Carolina's secession and, having earlier supported compromise over slavery, called for support of the Union. His last years were spent writing accounts of his experiences. |
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