John Adams Dix facts for kids

Quick facts for kids John Dix
24th Governor of New York
In office January 1, 1873 – December 31, 1874
Lieutenant	John C. Robinson
Preceded by	John T. Hoffman
Succeeded by	Samuel J. Tilden
United States Minister to France
In office December 23, 1866 – May 23, 1869
President	Andrew Johnson Ulysses S. Grant
Preceded by	John Bigelow
Succeeded by	Elihu B. Washburne
24th United States Secretary of the Treasury
In office January 15, 1861 – March 6, 1861
President	James Buchanan
Preceded by	Philip Thomas
Succeeded by	Salmon P. Chase
United States Senator from New York
In office January 27, 1845 – March 3, 1849
Preceded by	Henry A. Foster
Succeeded by	William H. Seward
16th Secretary of State of New York
In office January 15, 1833 – February 4, 1839
Governor	William L. Marcy William H. Seward
Preceded by	Azariah C. Flagg
Succeeded by	John Spencer
Personal details
Born	(1798-07-24)July 24, 1798 Boscawen, New Hampshire, U.S.
Died	April 21, 1879(1879-04-21) (aged 80) New York City, New York, U.S.
Political party	Democratic (Before 1872) Republican (1872–1879)
Other political affiliations	Free Soil (1848–1849)
Spouse	Catherine Morgan
Children	Morgan
Signature
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Army Union Army
Years of service	1813–1828 1861–1865
Rank	Major General
Commands	Department of Virginia
Battles/wars	American Civil War

John Adams Dix (July 24, 1798 – April 21, 1879) was an American politician and military officer. He served as the Secretary of the Treasury and Governor of New York. During the Civil War, he was a Union major general. He is known for helping to keep the state of Maryland from leaving the Union. He also helped create a system for exchanging prisoners of war.

Early Life and Career

John Adams Dix was born in Boscawen, New Hampshire, on July 24, 1798. His parents were Timothy Dix and Abigail Wilkins. He went to Phillips Exeter Academy for his education.

In May 1813, he joined the US Army as an ensign. He served under his father, who was also in the military. Dix became a captain in August 1825. He decided to leave the Army in December 1828.

In 1826, Dix married Catherine Morgan. Her adopted father, Congressman John J. Morgan, hired Dix to manage his land in upstate New York. Dix and his wife moved to Cooperstown in 1828. There, he worked as a lawyer and continued to manage the land.

In 1830, Governor Enos T. Throop appointed Dix as the Adjutant General of the New York State Militia. This job led him to move to Albany, New York. He then served as the Secretary of State of New York from 1833 to 1839. In 1842, he was a member of the New York State Assembly.

Serving as a U.S. Senator

Dix as a Senator

Dix was elected as a Democrat to the United States Senate. He took office in 1845 to fill a vacant seat. He served as a senator until 1849.

In November 1848, he ran for Governor of New York. He was the candidate for the Free Soil Party, which opposed the expansion of slavery. However, he lost the election to Hamilton Fish. In February 1849, he tried to be re-elected to the U.S. Senate. But the opposing party had more power in the state legislature, and William H. Seward was elected instead.

Railroad Leadership and Postmaster Role

Share of the Mississippi & Missouri Railroad Company, issued 24. September 1856 and signed by John Adams Dix

In 1853, Dix became the president of the Mississippi and Missouri Railroad. Later, from 1860 to 1861, he served as the Postmaster of New York City.

From 1863 to 1868, Dix was also the president of the Union Pacific Railroad. This was during the time the First transcontinental railroad was being built. He was a public face for the railroad owner, Thomas C. Durant. In 1872, he was briefly the president of the Erie Railroad as well.

Civil War Service

Line engraving of Dix from a US Treasury specimen book, c. 1902

In January 1861, President James Buchanan appointed Dix as the United States Secretary of the Treasury. This was for the final weeks of Buchanan's term.

At the start of the Civil War, Dix sent a famous telegram. It said: "If any one attempts to haul down the American flag, shoot him on the spot." This message became widely known. It made Dix one of the first heroes for the North during the war.

Major General in the Union Army

Major General Dix

When the Civil War began, Dix was appointed a major general in the New York Militia. He helped form the Union Defense Committee. This committee was allowed by President Abraham Lincoln to spend money to raise and equip the Union Army.

Dix joined the Union Army as a major general of volunteers in May 1861. He was the highest-ranking major general of volunteers at that time. In the summer of 1861, he commanded military departments in Maryland and Pennsylvania.

One of his most important actions was arresting six members of the Maryland General Assembly. This prevented the legislature from meeting and kept Maryland from joining the Confederacy. President Lincoln was very grateful for this.

From 1862 to 1863, Dix commanded the Department of Virginia. From 1863 to 1865, he commanded the Department of the East.

On July 22, 1862, Dix and Confederate Major General Daniel Harvey Hill made an agreement. This agreement was for exchanging prisoners between the Union and Confederate armies. It was called the Dix-Hill Cartel. It set up rules for how officers and soldiers could be exchanged. It also allowed prisoners to be paroled, meaning they promised not to fight again until officially exchanged. This system worked well for a few months.

Dix was considered too old to lead troops directly in battle. Many believe his most important contribution was helping to stop the New York City draft riots in July 1863. He also helped defend the city of Suffolk.

Later Life and Legacy

After the Civil War, Dix served as the United States Minister to France from 1866 to 1869.

He was elected Governor of New York in November 1872 as a Republican. He served from 1873 to 1874. However, he lost his re-election bid in November 1874 to Samuel J. Tilden. He also ran for Mayor of New York City in 1876 but was defeated.

John Adams Dix died in New York City at age 80 on April 21, 1879. He was buried at the Trinity Church Cemetery in Lower Manhattan.

Remembering John Adams Dix

• His son, Morgan Dix, put together his father's life story in two books.
• Fort Dix, New Jersey, a United States Army military base, is named after him.
• The town of Dix, Illinois, and Dix Township, Ford County, Illinois, are also named for him.
• Several revenue cutter ships, including the John A. Dix, were named in his honor.
• Dix Mountain, one of the tall peaks in the Adirondack High Peaks, was named for him. This name was later used for the entire mountain range.
• There is a memorial to Dix at the Cathedral of All Saints (Albany, New York).

See also

In Spanish: John Adams Dix para niños

• List of American Civil War generals (Union)