Lewis Cass

Lewis Cass (October 9, 1782 – June 17, 1866) was an American military officer and politician. He represented Michigan in the Senate and was in the Cabinets of two presidents: Andrew Jackson and James Buchanan. He was also the Democratic presidential nominee in 1848.

Lewis Cass
22nd United States Secretary of State
In office March 6, 1857 – December 14, 1860
President	James Buchanan
Preceded by	William Marcy
Succeeded by	Jeremiah Black
President pro tempore of the United States Senate
In office December 4, 1854 – December 5, 1854
Preceded by	David Atchison
Succeeded by	Jesse Bright
United States Senator from Michigan
In office March 4, 1849 – March 3, 1857
Preceded by	Thomas Fitzgerald
Succeeded by	Zachariah Chandler
In office March 4, 1845 – May 29, 1848
Preceded by	Augustus Porter
Succeeded by	Thomas Fitzgerald
United States Ambassador to France
In office December 1, 1836 – November 12, 1842
President	Andrew Jackson
Preceded by	Edward Livingston
Succeeded by	William King
14th United States Secretary of War
In office August 1, 1831 – October 4, 1836
President	Andrew Jackson
Preceded by	Roger B. Taney (Acting)
Succeeded by	Joel Poinsett
2nd Governor of the Michigan Territory
In office October 13, 1813 – August 1, 1831
Appointed by	James Madison
Preceded by	William Hull
Succeeded by	George Porter
Personal details
Born	(1782-10-09)October 9, 1782 Exeter, New Hampshire, U.S.
Died	June 17, 1866(1866-06-17) (aged 83) Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Eliza Spencer ​ ​ (m. 1806; died 1853)​
Signature
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Army
Years of service	1812–1814
Rank	Brigadier General
Battles/wars	War of 1812

He was an important person for the idea of popular sovereignty in which the people in each territory should decide whether to allow slavery in it.

Life

Lewis Cass was born in Exeter, New Hampshire.

Career

In 1806, Cass was elected to the Ohio House of Representatives. Also in 1806, President Thomas Jefferson chose Cass to be the U.S. Marshal for Ohio.^[1]

Secretary of War

On August 1, 1831, Cass quit being governor of the Michigan Territory to be the Secretary of War under President Andrew Jackson. He would be in that post until 1836.^[2]