ton's retirement, in 1795, advocating the Republican doc-
trines, and his uncle's administration, vigorously, in the
New- York press. In 1797, he was elected to the New- York
Assembly, and in 1798, to the State Senate, and was vei-y
active as a lea<h'r in both bodies. He was a member of the
Cuiincil (»r Appointment, and, differing from the Govci-nor
on the(pieslion whether the sole power of nomination was
vested in the ( governor, or vdiether it inhered in all the mem-
bers of the Council, a convention w^as called, and Clinton's
construction was adopted. He afterwards doubted the
wisdom of that decision, and, in 1822, it w^as reversed.
In IS02, 1)K Witt Clinton, then only thirty-three years
of age, was el(>cte(l United States Senator, and in that body
(l(>liv<'red several speeches, which showed a profound know-
Wdixv of international law, and vast research. The speech
delivered on the Mississippi question, on a resolulion
to take possession of New-Orleans, because the Spanish
intendante had prohibited the free navigation of the Mis-
sissii)i)i, was so masterly an argument, that it elicited iln-
liiirhestcomnuMidation from the ablest jnristsinWashingfon,
and defeated the resolution. In the summer of 1803, Mi'.
Clinton was elected M^ay or of New-York City, resigning
liis seat in the Senate to take the position. He was Mayor
bv re-election, from 1803 to 1807, from 1809 to 181m, and
from 1811 to 1814; and though able men have sat m the
Mav(n-'s chair, it is not too much to say that, m ••mi- 'H
reo-ard for all the interests of the City, in wise measures for
88 PORTKAIT GALLERY.
its development, in piisliing forward as rapidly as possible
the action for tlie construction of the Erie Canal, to bring
the products of other States and sections to its markets,
:nid in the promotion of its educational, benevolent and re-
ligious interests, the City has never had a Mayor who
a])])r()ached him in excellence. With the same official
])()\vers, and an equally long term of office, one or two of
his successors might have come nearer to him than they
have done— but these factors were wanting. During six
years of this time, Mayor ClintojST was also a State Senator,
and during that time, proposed and advocated laws covering
almo>t the whole scope of State and City legislation. In
the summer of 1810 he, with his associates, the first Canal
Commissioners, examined the Mohawk Yalley, and the
route now' occupied by the Erie and Oswego Canals, for
the pur])ose of ascertaining the x^racticability of construct-
ing a cnnal from the Hudson to the Lakes. The journal
which he kept during that journey, is still in print, and
is full of interest, for its exposition of the condition of
those sections of the State, nearly eighty years ago. In
1811 Mr. Clintot^ was elected Lieutenant-Governor of Xew-
Yoi'k, and in 1812, Avas nominated for the Presidency, in
C'pposi tion to James Madisox. The contest was very bitter.
Mr. Clintox was nnsnccessfnl, receiving 89 electoral votes,
while Afi". Madison had 128.
Foi- sciUic years after this defeat, he withdrew himself
vci-y much from political affairs, and entered with greater
zi'al and zest into litei'ary pursuits, while he continued his
advocacy of the Erie Canal and other internal im])rovements
for the benefit of commerce. lie was, from 18U to 1814,
again ^Tayorof New-York, and wide awake to its interests.
In 1815 his enemies defeated him as Mayor and Canal Com-
missioner. His ;i(l(li'e.ss before the New- York Historical
Society, in December, 1811, on the -Iroquois, or Six Nations
of Indians, is justly regarded as one of the ablest and most
learned of liis orations. He Avas one of the earliest and
most efficient fiieiids of the New-York Historical Society,
Avhich he iudud Inrgely, both ])ersonally and officially. Soon
after the teiniination of the war of 1812-14, Mr. Clinton
BIOGEAPIIICAL SKETCHES. 80
:i;;iiiii bf'f^au to iir^^eiipon thepeopleancl the Legislature, the
iH'ccssif y of tliofonsti-uction of the Canals. A laigp meeting;
of inllii»'iiti:il citizens was held in Xew-York in 1810, and a
inc'inoiial of ^nvat ability, drawn up by Mr. Cli>'Tox, wms
siibrriiJted, adopted and presented to the Leoi.sl;iture.
On the lolli day of April, 1817, a bill committinp,- the Stnte
to l!i<' construction of the Canals was passed, and .luly 4,
1817, the woi'k was commenced.
Ill iIh' r.ill of 1817 Mr. Clinton Avas elected Governor of
New- Yolk, abiiost unanimously. Inl82()he was re-elected,
and diiriui;- both terms, aside from his other duties, the
|)rosccution of tiie Canals to their completion was pressed
with viiror and success.
In l^-,'-J, a Convention was held to frame a new Constitu-
tion : tht- tcuu of the (Tovernor s service was made two
ycriis. lit h:id i)rrviously been three, as it is now,) :ind in
til.- :iiiliiiiiu of that year, Joseph C. Yates was elected
(iovt-nioi- for I lie following two years. In the autumn of
18-i4, Mr. Ci.iM(»N was again elected, and held the ofRce
till his (h-:illi, which occurred on the 11th of February,
1828. In October, 182o, the work on the Canals was com-
])h't«'(l, and ( Governor Clixton passed in triumph from
Lake Krie to tlie Hudson, greeted all along the route with
the greatest expressi(ms of joy, at the new imi)ulse thus
iX'wou to tlie Stiite and national commerce. His message
of .lauuarv 1, 18->8, breathed a spirit of the highest patriot-
ism, and closed with this eloquent and impressive perora-
tion: " We are inhabitants of the same land, children of
tlie same conntrv, lieirs of the same inheritance, connecte.l
bv identitvof interest, similarity oflangnageand community
of descent, by the sympathies of religion, and by all the
ligaments which now bind man to man in the closest bonds
of friendship and alliance. Let ns, then, enter on the dis-
charge of our exalted and solemn duties by a course o
conciiict worthy of ourselves and our country; whu-ii um
deserve the apidause of our constituents, insure the appro-
bation of our own consciences, and call down the benedict m
of the Supreme Euler of the Universe." His death, six
weeks lat4 -asyery sudden, and called forth the wannest
90 PORTKAIT GALLERY.
expressions of admiration and sympathy, from all parts of
the State and the United States,
The Chamber of Commerce testified its respect for his
memory in a series of resolutions, adopted at a special
meeting, held on the ISth of February, one of which Ave
here quote, as com]))'ehending\ in a brief summary, the out-
line of an illustrious life :
" His devotion to the cause of science and literature,
and to the benevolent institutions which distinguished the
l")resent day — his successful efforts to promote schools
among the great body of our citizens, whereby nearly half
a million of our youth receive the benefit of education —
his genius in projecting, and his untiring zeal and energy
in carrying into effect, the great scheme of internal navi-
gation, which has already united the Hudson with the
inland seas of the North, and will soon lead to a similar
union with the immense waters of the West, and lay open
to the commerce of this City fertile countries, whose shores
are iu)t inferior in extent to the shores of Europe — all show
the superiority of his mind — that it was directed to the
most patriotic objects, and that its efforts have been crowned
Avitli the most splendid success."
De Witt CLiXT0]sr will be known in the history of our
country as the promoter of education and science, the
efficient organizer of measures for the development of the
City and State, the j^atron and helper of every form of
])enevolent action, and the founder and creator of the
Canal system of JVeio- YorJc.
JOHN A. KING.
John Alsoi» King, the eldest son of Rufus and Mary
King, was boi-n in New- York, on 8d January, 1788, where
lie passed his early years until the appointment of his
father as Minister to the Court of St. James. During the
residence of the latter in London, liis two eldest sons,
John and Charles, wer<i i)upils in the public school at
Harrow, under Dr. Dhury, where they acquired a good
BIOGUAPIIICAL SKETCHES. 91
H;issir;il (â– (liiciitioii, and improved the vigorous constitution
llicy inlKTJfed, in tlie manly exercises and sports of tliis
cclfhi-atcd wcliool. After the return of his fntlier to
AiinTicM in l^(i:5, John passed over to Paris, where he Avas
iiisli ikI.mI ill tile Fi-cnch language and mathematics. Ke-
tiiiiiiiig homo tlio next year, he continued his education,
aixl. ill <liio time, engaged in the study of law nnder Kd-
MiNi) 1*i;ni)Jj:ton, being admitted to practice in the then
(!()iirl of Clianrciy in 1809. In 1810 he married Mahy, the
(hniglitor (»f (JoKXKLius Hay, an honored mercliant of
N^'\v-^'<)l k, and at that time President of the Chamber
of ( '(»miiM'ico. ;Mr. K I N(i made his residence in this City.
While ]>iiisiiing liis ])rofession, the war with England was
(i('rlar<'(| in 181"J, and although he disapproved of such a
dcclaralion, he felt that he had but one duty, as a good
cilizi-n, to sustain his country, and asked for and obtained
from (iovrriior Tilmi'KIXS a commission of Lieutenant of
('a\ali\, ill whicli capacity he served in New-York until
tlif chtso of th<' war.
Possessed <if but moderate means, he decided, in 181.1,
(o ivniovo to the country, where he bought a farm at
.laiiiaica, L. 1., near his father's residence, upon Avhich he
lived numy years of his life, surrounded by the iniluences
of a happy home, with an increasing family, and with th.'
sincere respect and kindly feeling of his neighbors, lie
was a laborious and active farmer, raising large crops by
his own exertions, and by the introduction of the best
l>r()cesses, as tliey were suggested by the improving know-
](.doe on farm matters. A lover of good stock and of
thorough bred animals, he was interested especially m the
improvement of horses, a fact which showed itseU in his
HVorts to promote the formation of a Jockey Club on J.ong
Island, of which he was for many years President and in
which man V of his friends were practical members, b(,th as
breeders and owners of celebrated horses. His deep inter-
est in the political questions of the day, and ^^^ ^^^^^l
and nuudy advocacy of the measures he ^^eenied best .
the intereits of the country, soon -^^ ^he confidence oh .
neighbors, and he was called by them to represent tliem
92 PORTRAIT GALLERY.
in tlie Assembly of the State in 1S19, 1820 and 1821. These
were times Avhen the aspects of i^arties were changing,
and political feelings were deeply roused by the intrigues
and schemes of designing men. The breaking np of the
Federal party, to which Mr. Kixg belonged, was one
of the results of these contests, and he arrayed himself,
with many others, against I)e Witt Clintox. Not-
withstanding this political opposition, he was a firm
friend to the latter in the making of the Erie Canal, of
whicli enterprise he remained a warm advocate during his
long life. In 1824 Mr. King was sent to the Senate of the
State, and was thus advancing on the road of political pre-
ferment, when he was appointed in 1825 by Mr. Adams as
Secretary of Legation to his father as Minister to the Court
of St. James. He remained in that capacity in London,
until his father's return home an invalid, and afterwards
as Charge des Affaires nntilthe arrival of the new Minister.
This residence was in many respects a source of pleasure,
for he was kindly received, and renewed many of the ac-
quaintances of his former school days.
Returning to Long Island, he purchased from his brothers
the old homestead, to which he removed, passing there the
remainder of his life, beloved and respected. Political
life was again opened to him, and although he was defeated
as a candidate for Congress, under the changed aspects of
the times, he was, in 1882, sent to the Assembly, where he
interested himself in the general business of the State, but
more particularly in procuring a charter for the Brooklyn
and Jamaica Railroad, of which he became President, and
which was the l)eginning of the lines of road which have
opened up the Island in all directions.
In 1S:]9 Mr. King was sent to the National Convention to
nominate a candidate for the Presidency. Mr. Clay was his
clioict', butiindinghis nomination impossible he was induced
to give liis vote, with that of the State, for General IIariuson.
In this and suhsecpient conventions, when the question of
the extension of slavery became a leading question, Mr.
King was always faithful and earnest in his opposition to
this measure.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. m
Iliiviii^r I, con elected to the 31st Congress in 1848, lie was
an iictive :i;,r,.nt in endeavoring to prevent the passage of
tlic c<)nipi'o?iiise measures, which looked to the extension
of slavery to the new Territories acquired from Mexico, luit
wliicli ivsiillcd in l)ringing in California as a free State, lor
wliicli Ik- earnestly contended, and which was the first
clieek file advorates of slavery received; but the efforts
to |tre\eiit the ])assage of the fugitive slave hiw failed,
thongli lliat vei-y act was what alone was wanting to rouse
t'vr'ry manly instinct of the Northern States to examine
into llie jxdilleal as w^ell as moral character of shivery,
am! Im reslijet it within its then limits. Mr. King was a
(lelegalo lo the conventions at which Generals Scott and
FiMiMoNT were nominated for the Presidency. At the
latter ('((n vent ion, in 1806, he earnestly advocated the
rlioiee <>r I<'i:i;m(>.\'I", as representing the voice of the people
against slavi-ry. which was then beginning to make itself
clearly heard, lie had been' the year before the presiding
oirn-er (.f the (V)nvention in the State of New- York, wlieie
the old Whigs and independent Democrats were fused into
a new Kejinblican party, the war cry being opposition to
th(3 extension of slavery; and in the next year, though
^Ir. l'.r( iiANAN was chosen President, the State of New-
York, by a lai-g(; nmjority, gave its vote for Fremont,
elected Mi". King as Governor, and at the same time
declared, as he afterwards, in his inaugural address, said
lie understood it to be ''their deliberate and irrevocable
decree, that so far as the State of New- York is concern.'d,
tluM-e shall l)e lienceforth no extension of slavery in the
Territ<n-ies of the Inited States;" "a resolution I most
nnies(u-vedlv adopt, and am prepared to al)ide by it, at all
times, under all circumstances, and in every emergency
The public schools, the Erie Canal and other great i..d>lic
measures for the benelit of the State and City, received his
faithful attention, and when called upon in the case ol m.
quarantine riots and to carry out the law ^^^^^'^f ^^
Metropolitan Police, he manifested such determine! h .
ness a ul took such decisive steps that the pnbhc peace ms
pre e ved and the laws sustained, notwithstanding the
94 PORTRAIT GALLERY.
•serious efforts which were made to render them inopera-
tive.
i^fter the term of liis office as Governor, to which lie
declined a re-nomination, Mr. King attended the convention
Avhich nominated Mr. Lincoln for the Presidency, and
then retired into private life, from which he w^as again
recalled in 1801, to become a member of the Peace Con-
venti(jn, to which he had been appointed by Governor
Morgan. Hoping little from its meetings, he felt it his
duty to do wdiat he conld to arrest the serious troubles
Avhich were threatening the life of the country. Though
these efforts were unsuccessful, Mr. King had the happi-
ness to live long enough to see the country, after a bloody
war, restored once more to i)eace, with the stain on its
escutcheon removed, and advancing rapidly on a career of
prosperity. As always in his life, the w^elfare of his country
was the theme upon which his thoughts were w^armly turned,
and on the 4th of July, 18G7, he addressed the students at
Union Ilall Academy, Jamaica, L. I., which had prospered
for fifty }'ears, largely under his fostering care, and com-
mended to them the care of the flag of their country, which
had just been presented to them, telling them that the
older men were passing away, and that to them Avas soon
to be committed the care of that liag, and of all it repre-
sented ; a care which must be exercised with a deep sense
of responsibility to God. While thus speaking he fell
back into the arms of his friends, and was carried to his
liome, where, after lingeiing a few days, he died peacefully,
surrounded by his sorrowing family, on the 7th July, 1807,
at the nge of seventy-nine.
Mr. King's liberal and enlightened views as to the pro-
motion of the varied interests of the State and City of
his birth, characterized his wdiole public life, and his ad-
vocacy of every measure to advance the commercial growth
and prosperity of the City, obtained for him recognition
from the Chamber of Commerce, which made him an
honorary member of their body. The State Agricultural
Society and the United States Agricultural Society were
both indebted to him as one of their founders and deej^ly
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 95
inlcn-.stcd lijeiids during Lis life, the former electing him
as (>n«? of tlieir Presidents, and the latter one of'^their
Vice-l»if.sid«-nls, AvhiJe the Agricultural College at Ovid,
now a \,i\]{ of Coriu'll I'mversity, received much of his
tiiiK- and cnw. Long Island, especially Queens County,
was constantly in his thoughts, the evidence being in liis
unrciniit.'d clloits t(» iniin-ove the roads and means of trans-
])ortali(»n, and 1o organize and support the Queens County
Agriciiliinal Society, of Avhich he was many times the
I'rrsidtMt.
lie was an earnest and faithful member of the Protestant
Kpiscojial ('liurrh, in Avhich he had been brought up, and
tdwards wliich liis lieart always turned warmlv. In the
C(»nv('nli(in of the Diocese of New- York, and in the Gen-
<'ral 'rh«'<th>gi('al Seminary, his counsels were judicious and
prinh-nt, and lie was ever ready to speak and act so as to
strengthen tlie cause of religion and of the Church of his
convictions. At his own home, Jamaica, he took an
cariM'st part in advancing the prosperity of the educational
and rcligit.us institutions, and more especially that of
Uvnrv Cliurch, (tf which he was Vestryman and Warden for
many years, and which received his loving care and liberal
^'ifts, and ill whose quiet yard his remains lie. Mr. Kin(;
was a member of the New-York and Long Island Ilistoriral
Societies, and was a founder of the St. Nicholas Society.
Mr. K I N»; was tall and well proportioned in person, qui.-k
and graceful in liis movements, courteous and affable in
manner, and a good speaker, with a clear, powerful and
l)leasant voice. (\)rrect and temperate in his habits from
his youth up, he suffered none of the evil effects of irregu-
larity in life, but enjoyed health and vigor and all his fac-
ultiti unimpaired to the close of a long and useful career.
EDWIN D. MORGAN.
Tmk c-areer of Edwix Dexiso^ Mokgax, as merchant
and statesman, and particularly as war f <>^'^;;"^[;;jj ';'
State of New- York, will always be read with inteiest.
96 POETRAIT GALLERY.
Edwin" D. Morgan was born in Washington, Berkshire
County, Mass., February 8tb, 1811. His father, Jasper
Morgan, was a New-England farmer, and the son, there-
fore, passed his boyhood days in the fields, and managed
to obtain some little learning at the village school during
the winter months. With a common school education, a
capital of 37 cents, and a determination to win success, he
started out at the age of 17 to seek his fortune. He went
to Hartford, Conn., and there bound himself for three years
as assistant to his uncle, a grocer of that City. Sucli was
his aptitude for trading that before the end of his term of
apprenticeshiiD he was sent to New- York to purchase tea,
sugar and corn. The last named was then an article of
import instead of export, and young Morgan proved so
shrewd and successful a buyer that, at the age of 20, his uncle
took him into partnership. In 1832 he was elected a mem-
ber of tlie City Council of Hartford. In 1833 he married
Miss Waterman, of that City, and in December, 1836, he
came to New- York. He afterwards formed a partnership
with a Mr. Earle, and with their savings, and $10,000 ad-
vanced to them by a Hartford capitalist, the firm of
Morgan & Earle, in 1837, began business as wholesale
grocers. At the end of the year the firm was dissolved,
and Edwin D. Morgan began business on his own account.
His line faculty of anticipating the changes in the market
was proverbial, and all his ventures seemed successful.
While other dealers ofttimes operated at a loss, Mr, Morgan
reaped profits. He soon became known as one of the
largest dealers in raw sugar, and handled tea and coffee
with successful results. Opportunities which others
missed, he saw and took advantage of, and he was rapidly
accumulating a lai'ge fortune. In 1847 he formed the
house of E. 1), Morgan & Co., taking as xxirtners his
cousin, (.tK<)R(;io I). Morgan, and his two former clerks,
John T. Tkrrv and tSoLON Humphreys. These three
partners chiefly conducted the business, Mr. Morgan
having determined upon a political career. In 1849 Mr.
Morgan was elected President of the Board of Assistant
Aldermen, a body which was then composed of eminently
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 07
rf'spect.iblo incirliants and men of standing. During- the
clioleni i-avnges in the City he was unremitting in his ex-
ertions for the sick and dying, visiting the hospitals and
giving of Ills own means to alleviate the distress and suf-
fering which tlien existed. In 1850 he was elected to the
State iSenate from the Sixth District of New-York, and
served two terms in that body, being Chairman of the
Finance Coniniittee, and President ^ro tern, for both terms.
Jle (i(!clin«M| ;i third term, and in 1855 was appointed Com-
inissiontT of Kinigi-ation, a position at that time held by
sorn»! of the l)est citizens of Xew-York. This oflTice he
held fill 1S58. In the meantime, as the "Whig party, of
wiiicli Mr. Mni:(;.\x was a member, liad become merged in
tln! JJrpublican ]»nrty, he joined the latter, and, in fact,
was one of its founders. lie was Vice-President of the
^'atiollal Convention in May, 1856, at which the party was
organized, aiul was made Chairman of the National Coni-
Miillee, and presided a few months later at the Philadeli>hi:i
Convention, at wiiich Fukimoxt Avas nominated for Presi-
dent, and the Fukmont campaign was conducted under
liis management. In 1858 he was nominated by the Re-
l)ni)rn-ans for Governor of the State. He Avas elected to
tills high oflice, and his sensible administration is now a
nuitter"of history. In 1860 he was re-elected, and his
re.'ord during his second term is inseparably connected
with the history of the War of the Rebellion. When the
war broke out he labored assiduously for the success of
the L'nion cause, and will always be remembered as one
<,f t lie war Governors of the loyal States. Men and money
were wanted, and Governor Morgax spent the wh; e of
his time endeavoring to secure both. By May, J80], h.
had succeeded, under a special Act of the {^^«^« '^^ure in
enrolling 80,000 men, and by July 12th, tl^ey ka^ - -i
organized into aS regiments, officered and «ent t Uhc .
Tl e ener-v of the Governor was unbounded. When 1 e.si
dent LNCOLX, after the attack on McClellan, called or
300,000 more troops, Governor Mokgak ^eternim^ lu.
New-York should supply her fair quota. ^^^ - ^^
State bounty was offered, in addition to the national bounts ,
'98 POllTEAIT GALLERY.
and the Governor undertook to raise the sum of $4, 000, COO
for this object. It was discovered that the State had about
this amount to its credit in various banks, and Governor
MoiiGAisr toolv this money to pay the bounties. He called for
25,000 men, and offered $50 bounty for each man. Speedily
this number was obtained, and sent to the front : the
Legislature in the following year legalized the expenditure
therefor. " I am for continuing this war to the end," wrote
the Governor, ''^ with all the force Ave have in the field, with
all we can raise by voluntary enlistment, and after that, if
need be, by a conscription embracing all classes and de-
scription of persons of proper age." It is on record, that
during his second term, Governor MoRGAisr enrolled and
equipped 200,000 soldiers. President Lincolt^" made him
Major-General of volunteers, and, in order to facilitate his