Stephen A. Douglas
(23 April, 1813 -- 3 June, 1861) Douglas was an American lawyer, businessman, and politician. Born in Brandon, Vt., Douglas learned cabinetmaker's trade, studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1834. Douglas settled in Winchester, Ill. where he served as State's attorney for the Morgan Circuit in 1835 and as a member of the State House of Representatives from 1836 to 1837. Douglas was elected as a Democrat to the Twenty-eighth, Twenty-ninth, and Thirtieth Congresses and served from March 4th, 1843 until his resignation on March 3rd, 1847. In 1847, Douglas was elected as a Democrat to the United States Senate and served from March 4th, 1847 until his death on June 3rd, 1861. [Source: 'Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774- Present', available at http://bioguide.congress.gov/biosearch/biosearch.asp]
Member of
Illinois Delegation - The Road to Civil War
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