Edwin M. Stanton facts for kids

Edwin McMasters Stanton
Quick facts for kids Edwin McMasters Stanton
25th United States Attorney General
	In office; December 20, 1860 – March 4, 1861
President	James Buchanan
Preceded by	Jeremiah S. Black
Succeeded by	Edward Bates
27th United States Secretary of War
	In office; January 20, 1862 – May 28, 1868
President	Abraham Lincoln (1862–1865); Andrew Johnson (1865–1868)
Preceded by	Simon Cameron
Succeeded by	John M. Schofield
Personal details
Born	December 19, 1814; Steubenville, Ohio, U.S.
Died	December 24, 1869 (aged 55); Washington, D.C., U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Mary Lamson Stanton; Ellen Hutchison Stanton
Alma mater	Kenyon College
Profession	Lawyer, Politician
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Edwin McMasters Stanton (December 19, 1814 – December 24, 1869) was an American lawyer and politician. He was the United States Secretary of War under Abraham Lincoln administration during most of the American Civil War. Stanton's effective management helped organize the massive military resources of the North and guide the Union to victory under the command by Ulysses S. Grant.

Early life

Stanton was born in Steubenville, Ohio, the eldest of four children to David and Lucy Norman Stanton. Throughout his childhood and adult life Stanton suffered from asthma. Stanton studied at Kenyon College. He was also from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Personal life

He was married to Mary Lamson from 1836 until her death in 1844. They had two children; Lucy Lamson and Edwin Lamson. Then he was married to Ellen Hutchinson. His brother David committed suicide. Stanton died on December 24, 1869 in Washington, D.C. from respiratory failure, aged 55.

Images for kids

Stanton's birthplace in Steubenville, Ohio
Stanton's home in Cadiz, Ohio
Stanton's home on Third Street in Steubenville
A lithograph of the Wheeling Suspension Bridge
An engraving of Cyrus H. McCormick
Stanton's home in Washington, D.C.
A depiction of the scene in the courtroom during Daniel Sickles' trial
Simon Cameron, Lincoln's Secretary of War before Stanton
Stanton as Secretary of War
Photograph of Edwin Stanton
Secretary of War Edwin Stanton, 1862. From the Liljenquist Family Collection of Civil War Photographs, Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
Maj. Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman
"The Situation", a Harper's Weekly cartoon gives a humorous breakdown of "the situation". Stanton aims a cannon labeled "Congress" on the side at President Andrew Johnson and Lorenzo Thomas to show how he was using Congress to defeat the president and his unsuccessful replacement. He also holds a ramrod marked "Tenure of Office Bill" and cannonballs on the floor are marked "Justice". Ulysses S. Grant and an unidentified man stand to Stanton's left.
The 1st Stanton postage stamp, issue of 1871
Stanton depicted on a $1 1891 Treasury Note.