Stanton, Edwin

Edwin Stanton

Born December 19, 1814
Steubenville, Ohio

Died December 24, 1869
Washington, D.C.

Attorney general, secretary of war, and lawyer

"Now he belongs to the ages." (on the death of Abraham Lincoln)

Edwin Stanton was one of the nation's best-known attorneys during the 1850s, an extremely effective secretary of war under President Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865; served 1861–65) during most of the Civil War (1861–65), and a controversial figure in the administration of President Andrew Johnson (1808–1875; served 1865–69; see entry). As Johnson struggled with Congress over control of Reconstruction, the program through which states that joined the Confederacy would reenter the Union, Stanton openly sided with the views of congressional leaders. Johnson hesitated to fire Stanton; when he finally demanded Stanton's resignation, Congress began the first-ever impeachment (formal accusation of wrongdoing) case against a U.S. president. Known for his quick temper and penetrating questions, Stanton overcame personal tragedies and used boundless energy and close attention to detail to achieve remarkable success. He died just days after turning fifty-five and having been confirmed to an appointment as a justice on the Supreme Court.

Edwin McMasters Stanton was born on December 19, 1814, in Steubenville, Ohio. He was the eldest of four childrenof Dr.

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