Edward D. Hamilton
Encyclopedia
Edward D. Hamilton was an American attorney, military officer, and politician in what became the state of Oregon
. A native of Virginia
, he lived in Ohio
before fighting in the Mexican-American War. A member of the Whig Party, he served as Secretary for the Oregon Territory
in the 1850s. Later he practiced law and was a judge in Portland
.
, Virginia
, on October 3, 1801. He received his education in Virginia and later studied law and was accepted into the bar
in that state. Hamilton moved to Portsmouth, Ohio
, where he served in the militia
and was the editor of the Portsmouth Tribune.
In 1830, Hamilton married Katherine Royer in Ohio, with one daughter the result of the marriage. In the militia he attained the rank of general. During the Mexican-American War he served with then General Zachary Taylor
, with Hamilton’s rank being captain. In 1848, Taylor was elected as President of the United States
.
politician Hamilton to the position of Secretary of the Oregon Territory
. The position had been turned down by Abraham Lincoln
. Hamilton replaced Democrat Kintzing Prichette
, taking office on September 18, 1850. When he arrived with new governor John P. Gaines
aboard the vessel Falmouth, the capitol of the territory was in Oregon City
. In 1851, the legislature
moved the capitol to Salem
, but Hamilton and Gaines refused to accept the new location. Those opposed to the move invoked the one subject rule of the laws governing the territory, claiming that the law passed moving the seat of government contained more than one subject and was invalid. The Oregon Supreme Court
and the United States Treasury agreed the capitol was still Oregon City, but Congress later overturned these decisions by passing a law designating Salem as the capitol. Hamilton remained in office until May 14, 1853.
in 1854 in Portland
. Hamilton was also the secretary for the now defunct Oregon City Female Seminary at that time. He was a vice president of the American Sunday School Union from 1854 to 1855. From 1858 to 1862 he served as judge for Multnomah County
, where Portland is located, the first judge after statehood. He then served as county clerk. Edward D. Hamilton died on either December 10, or 12, 1883, at the age of 82.
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. A native of Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, he lived in Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
before fighting in the Mexican-American War. A member of the Whig Party, he served as Secretary for the Oregon Territory
Oregon Territory
The Territory of Oregon was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from August 14, 1848, until February 14, 1859, when the southwestern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Oregon. Originally claimed by several countries , the region was...
in the 1850s. Later he practiced law and was a judge in Portland
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
.
Early life
Hamilton was born in Culpeper CountyCulpeper County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 34,262 people, 12,141 households, and 9,045 families residing in the county. The population density was 90 people per square mile . There were 12,871 housing units at an average density of 34 per square mile...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, on October 3, 1801. He received his education in Virginia and later studied law and was accepted into the bar
Bar (law)
Bar in a legal context has three possible meanings: the division of a courtroom between its working and public areas; the process of qualifying to practice law; and the legal profession.-Courtroom division:...
in that state. Hamilton moved to Portsmouth, Ohio
Portsmouth, Ohio
Portsmouth is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Scioto County. The municipality is located on the northern banks of the Ohio River and east of the Scioto River in Southern Ohio. The population was 20,226 at the 2010 census.-Foundation:...
, where he served in the militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
and was the editor of the Portsmouth Tribune.
In 1830, Hamilton married Katherine Royer in Ohio, with one daughter the result of the marriage. In the militia he attained the rank of general. During the Mexican-American War he served with then General Zachary Taylor
Zachary Taylor
Zachary Taylor was the 12th President of the United States and an American military leader. Initially uninterested in politics, Taylor nonetheless ran as a Whig in the 1848 presidential election, defeating Lewis Cass...
, with Hamilton’s rank being captain. In 1848, Taylor was elected as President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
.
Political career
In 1850, President Taylor appointed the fellow Whig PartyWhig Party (United States)
The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic...
politician Hamilton to the position of Secretary of the Oregon Territory
Oregon Secretary of State
The Secretary of State of Oregon, an elected constitutional officer within the executive branch of government of the U.S. state of Oregon, is first in line of succession to the Governor. The duties of office are: auditor of public accounts, chief elections officer, and administrator of public...
. The position had been turned down by Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
. Hamilton replaced Democrat Kintzing Prichette
Kintzing Prichette
Kintzing Prichette was an American political figure. He was primarily a political appointee within the federal government's various departments, which at the time included U.S. Territories...
, taking office on September 18, 1850. When he arrived with new governor John P. Gaines
John P. Gaines
John Pollard Gaines was a U.S. military and political figure. He was a Whig member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Kentucky from 1847 to 1849, and he served as Governor of the Oregon Territory from 1850 to 1853, stepping down after a turbulent term in office.-Early...
aboard the vessel Falmouth, the capitol of the territory was in Oregon City
Oregon City, Oregon
Oregon City was the first city in the United States west of the Rocky Mountains to be incorporated. It is the county seat of Clackamas County, Oregon...
. In 1851, the legislature
Oregon Territorial Legislature
Oregon’s Territorial Legislature was a bicameral legislative body created by the United States Congress in 1848 as the legislative branch of the government of the Oregon Territory...
moved the capitol to Salem
Salem, Oregon
Salem is the capital of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river forms the boundary between Marion and Polk counties, and the city neighborhood...
, but Hamilton and Gaines refused to accept the new location. Those opposed to the move invoked the one subject rule of the laws governing the territory, claiming that the law passed moving the seat of government contained more than one subject and was invalid. The Oregon Supreme Court
Oregon Supreme Court
The Oregon Supreme Court is the highest state court in the U.S. state of Oregon. The only court that may reverse or modify a decision of the Oregon Supreme Court is the Supreme Court of the United States. The OSC holds court at the Oregon Supreme Court Building in Salem, Oregon, near the capitol...
and the United States Treasury agreed the capitol was still Oregon City, but Congress later overturned these decisions by passing a law designating Salem as the capitol. Hamilton remained in office until May 14, 1853.
Later years
After leaving office Hamilton remained in Oregon. He formed a law partnership with Benjamin StarkBenjamin Stark
Benjamin Stark was an American merchant and politician in Oregon. A native of Louisiana, he purchased some of the original tracts of land for the city of Portland. He later served in the Oregon House of Representatives before appointment to the United States Senate in 1860 after the death of...
in 1854 in Portland
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
. Hamilton was also the secretary for the now defunct Oregon City Female Seminary at that time. He was a vice president of the American Sunday School Union from 1854 to 1855. From 1858 to 1862 he served as judge for Multnomah County
Multnomah County, Oregon
Multnomah County is one of 36 counties in the U.S. state of Oregon. Though smallest in area, it is the most populous as its county seat, Portland, is the state's largest city...
, where Portland is located, the first judge after statehood. He then served as county clerk. Edward D. Hamilton died on either December 10, or 12, 1883, at the age of 82.