Martin F. Conway
Encyclopedia
Martin Franklin Conway (November 19, 1829 – February 15, 1882) was a U.S.
congressman, consul
to France
, abolitionist, and advocate of the Free-State movement
in Kansas
.
Conway was born in Harford County, Maryland
, the son of Dr. W. D. Conway and Frances (Maulsby) Conway. His father was an Exploring Surveyor in the United States Navy
, and a slave-owner. Conway learned the printer's trade in Baltimore after leaving school at fourteen. He married Emily Dykes in 1851, and studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1852.
Conway moved to the Kansas Territory
in 1854, initially working as a special correspondent for the Baltimore Sun. He soon resumed the practice of law and became involved in territorial politics. In March 1855, Conway was elected from Riley County
to the first territorial Council (Senate), but resigned prior to assuming his seat. In 1855, he was an active member at the Free-State meeting in Big Springs
and became a delegate to the Topeka Constitution
al convention. In January 1856, he was elected Chief Justice of the Supreme Court under the Topeka constitution. In 1858, he served as president of the Leavenworth Constitution
al Convention.
The following year, Conway was elected as representative to the U.S. Congress under the Wyandotte Constitution
and, when Kansas entered the Union in January 1861, he was the new state's first congressman, serving as a Republican until March 3, 1863. While in the U.S. House of Representatives, he was known for his opposition to slavery but also served as a member of the Washington, D.C.
"peace convention"
in an effort to avert civil war. He was not returned to congress for another term, but later defended President Andrew Johnson
against political assaults waged by Radical Republicans in Congress. In June 1866, Johnson appointed the former Kansas congressman as consul to Marseille
, France
.
While living in Washington, during the fall of 1873, Conway had a violent confrontation with personal and political enemy, Samuel C. Pomeroy
, the former U. S. senator from Kansas. He was arrested for firing three shots at and slightly wounding Pomeroy, but did not stand trial. In 1880, Conway became an inmate of St. Elizabeth
, the Government Hospital for the Insane in Washington, D.C., and died at age fifty-two.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
congressman, consul
Consul (representative)
The political title Consul is used for the official representatives of the government of one state in the territory of another, normally acting to assist and protect the citizens of the consul's own country, and to facilitate trade and friendship between the peoples of the two countries...
to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, abolitionist, and advocate of the Free-State movement
Free-Stater
Free-Stater was the name given those settlers in Kansas Territory during the Bleeding Kansas era in the 1850s who opposed the extension of slavery to Kansas....
in Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
.
Conway was born in Harford County, Maryland
Harford County, Maryland
Harford County is a county in the U.S. state of Maryland. In 2010, its population was 244,826. Its county seat is Bel Air. Harford County forms part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area.-History:...
, the son of Dr. W. D. Conway and Frances (Maulsby) Conway. His father was an Exploring Surveyor in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, and a slave-owner. Conway learned the printer's trade in Baltimore after leaving school at fourteen. He married Emily Dykes in 1851, and studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1852.
Conway moved to the Kansas Territory
Kansas Territory
The Territory of Kansas was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from May 30, 1854, until January 29, 1861, when the eastern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Kansas....
in 1854, initially working as a special correspondent for the Baltimore Sun. He soon resumed the practice of law and became involved in territorial politics. In March 1855, Conway was elected from Riley County
Riley County, Kansas
Riley County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. The county's population was 71,115 for the 2010 census. The largest city and county seat is Manhattan. The county is part of the Manhattan, Kansas, Metropolitan Statistical Area.Riley County is home to two of Kansas' largest...
to the first territorial Council (Senate), but resigned prior to assuming his seat. In 1855, he was an active member at the Free-State meeting in Big Springs
Big Springs, Kansas
Big Springs is an unincorporated community in western Douglas County, Kansas, United States. Today it has a water tower, tool shop, church and a fire station that is part of the Lecompton Township Fire Dist. 1. Its mailing address is Lecompton...
and became a delegate to the Topeka Constitution
Topeka Constitution
The Topeka Constitutional Convention was held in October 1855 in the town of Topeka, Kansas Territory. The convention was held in the town's Constitution Hall...
al convention. In January 1856, he was elected Chief Justice of the Supreme Court under the Topeka constitution. In 1858, he served as president of the Leavenworth Constitution
Leavenworth Constitution
The Leavenworth Constitution was one of four Kansas state constitutions proposed during the era of Bleeding Kansas. The Leavenworth Constitution was drafted by a convention of Free-Staters, and was the most progressive of the four proposed constitutions...
al Convention.
The following year, Conway was elected as representative to the U.S. Congress under the Wyandotte Constitution
Wyandotte Constitution
The present Constitution of the State of Kansas was originally known as the Wyandotte Constitution to distinguish it from three proposed constitutions that preceded it...
and, when Kansas entered the Union in January 1861, he was the new state's first congressman, serving as a Republican until March 3, 1863. While in the U.S. House of Representatives, he was known for his opposition to slavery but also served as a member of the Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
"peace convention"
Peace conference of 1861
The Peace Conference of 1861 was a meeting of more than 100 of the leading politicians of the antebellum United States held in Washington, D.C., in February 1861 that was meant to prevent what ultimately became the Civil War. The success of President Abraham Lincoln and the Republican Party in the...
in an effort to avert civil war. He was not returned to congress for another term, but later defended President Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson was the 17th President of the United States . As Vice-President of the United States in 1865, he succeeded Abraham Lincoln following the latter's assassination. Johnson then presided over the initial and contentious Reconstruction era of the United States following the American...
against political assaults waged by Radical Republicans in Congress. In June 1866, Johnson appointed the former Kansas congressman as consul to Marseille
Marseille
Marseille , known in antiquity as Massalia , is the second largest city in France, after Paris, with a population of 852,395 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Marseille extends beyond the city limits with a population of over 1,420,000 on an area of...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
While living in Washington, during the fall of 1873, Conway had a violent confrontation with personal and political enemy, Samuel C. Pomeroy
Samuel C. Pomeroy
Samuel Clarke Pomeroy was an American Republican Senator from Kansas in the mid-19th century, serving in the United States Senate during the American Civil War. Pomeroy served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives...
, the former U. S. senator from Kansas. He was arrested for firing three shots at and slightly wounding Pomeroy, but did not stand trial. In 1880, Conway became an inmate of St. Elizabeth
St. Elizabeths Hospital
St. Elizabeths Hospital is a psychiatric hospital operated by the District of Columbia Department of Mental Health. It was the first large-scale, federally-run psychiatric hospital in the United States. Housing several thousand patients at its peak, St. Elizabeths had a fully functioning...
, the Government Hospital for the Insane in Washington, D.C., and died at age fifty-two.