US Senator, New York Governor, Presidential Cabinet Secretary. He graduated from Brown University in 1808, and was admitted to the bar in 1811. Serving in the United States Army as a Captain of Volunteers during the War of 1812, he led a detachment at St. Regis, Canada that captured the first prisoners and the first flag taken on land in the war. Becoming friendly with future United States President Martin Van Buren in 1818, he helped organize and create the dominant Democratic political group known as the “Albany Regency”. He served as New York State Comptroller from 1823 to 1829, and as a New York State Supreme Court Justice from 1829 to 1831. He was then elected as a Senator from New York to the United States Senate, serving from 1831 to 1832, when he resigned, having been elected as Governor of New York (during his time in the Senate he defended political patronage against an attack by Henry Clay, declaring the Democrats "saw nothing wrong with the rule that to the victors belong the spoils.") He served as New York Governor from 1833 to 1838. Appointed as Secretary of War during President James K. Polk’s Administration, he served in that office from 1845 to 1849, and presided over the execution of the Mexican War. Appointed Secretary of State under President Franklin Pierce, he served from 1853 to 1857, and negotiated 24 treaties - the largest number ratified within an administration up to that time. The highest point in New York State, Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains, is named for him.
US Senator, New York Governor, Presidential Cabinet Secretary. He graduated from Brown University in 1808, and was admitted to the bar in 1811. Serving in the United States Army as a Captain of Volunteers during the War of 1812, he led a detachment at St. Regis, Canada that captured the first prisoners and the first flag taken on land in the war. Becoming friendly with future United States President Martin Van Buren in 1818, he helped organize and create the dominant Democratic political group known as the “Albany Regency”. He served as New York State Comptroller from 1823 to 1829, and as a New York State Supreme Court Justice from 1829 to 1831. He was then elected as a Senator from New York to the United States Senate, serving from 1831 to 1832, when he resigned, having been elected as Governor of New York (during his time in the Senate he defended political patronage against an attack by Henry Clay, declaring the Democrats "saw nothing wrong with the rule that to the victors belong the spoils.") He served as New York Governor from 1833 to 1838. Appointed as Secretary of War during President James K. Polk’s Administration, he served in that office from 1845 to 1849, and presided over the execution of the Mexican War. Appointed Secretary of State under President Franklin Pierce, he served from 1853 to 1857, and negotiated 24 treaties - the largest number ratified within an administration up to that time. The highest point in New York State, Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains, is named for him.
Bio by: Mark Bodnar
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