Edward Hempstead
Encyclopedia
Edward Hempstead was an American
lawyer, pioneer, and one of the early settlers in the new Louisiana Purchase
in 1805. Born in New London, Connecticut
, Hempstead was the delegate in the U.S. House
for the Missouri Territory
from 1812 to 1814. He served as territorial attorney general in Upper Louisiana and in the Missouri Territorial Legislature.
, and is buried in the Bellefontaine Cemetery there. Hempstead County, Arkansas, is named in his honor.
Hempstead was friends with Thomas Hart Benton (senator)
. Benton was to say later that he thought Hempstead would have become Missouri's first senator had he lived. Benton was with Hempstead when he died and spent the wake with his body. When Benton came home from the wake Benton received a duel
challenge with Charles Lucas (Missouri)
following a dispute over a court case. Benton replied he would meet Lucas as soon as Hempstead was buried. The two were to fight two duels with Benton ultimately killing Lucas.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer, pioneer, and one of the early settlers in the new Louisiana Purchase
Louisiana Purchase
The Louisiana Purchase was the acquisition by the United States of America of of France's claim to the territory of Louisiana in 1803. The U.S...
in 1805. Born in New London, Connecticut
New London, Connecticut
New London is a seaport city and a port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States.It is located at the mouth of the Thames River in New London County, southeastern Connecticut....
, Hempstead was the delegate in the U.S. House
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
for the Missouri Territory
Missouri Territory
The Territory of Missouri was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from June 4, 1812 until August 10, 1821, when the southeastern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Missouri.-History:...
from 1812 to 1814. He served as territorial attorney general in Upper Louisiana and in the Missouri Territorial Legislature.
Accident
Hempstead died after an accident when he was thrown from his horse on August 4, 1817. He died of his injuries six days later at his home in St. Louis, MissouriSt. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, and is buried in the Bellefontaine Cemetery there. Hempstead County, Arkansas, is named in his honor.
Hempstead was friends with Thomas Hart Benton (senator)
Thomas Hart Benton (senator)
Thomas Hart Benton , nicknamed "Old Bullion", was a U.S. Senator from Missouri and a staunch advocate of westward expansion of the United States. He served in the Senate from 1821 to 1851, becoming the first member of that body to serve five terms...
. Benton was to say later that he thought Hempstead would have become Missouri's first senator had he lived. Benton was with Hempstead when he died and spent the wake with his body. When Benton came home from the wake Benton received a duel
Duel
A duel is an arranged engagement in combat between two individuals, with matched weapons in accordance with agreed-upon rules.Duels in this form were chiefly practised in Early Modern Europe, with precedents in the medieval code of chivalry, and continued into the modern period especially among...
challenge with Charles Lucas (Missouri)
Charles Lucas (Missouri)
Charles Lucas was an entrepreneur and legislator in Missouri Territory who was killed in a duel with U.S. Senator Thomas Hart Benton.-Early life:...
following a dispute over a court case. Benton replied he would meet Lucas as soon as Hempstead was buried. The two were to fight two duels with Benton ultimately killing Lucas.