George Grundy Dunn (December 20, 1812 – September 4, 1857) was an American lawyer and politician who served one term as a

U.S. Representative The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they c ...

from

Indiana Indiana () is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States. It is the 38th-largest by area and the 17th-most populous of the 50 States. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Indiana was admitted to the United States as the 19th s ...

from 1847 to 1849 and another term from 1855 to 1857.

Early life and education

George Grundy Dunn was born in Washington County, Kentucky on December 20, 1812, to Samuel and Elizabeth Grundy Dunn. In 1823, his family moved to

Monroe County, Indiana Monroe County is a county in the U.S. state of Indiana. In 1910 the US Census Bureau calculated the nation's mean population center to lie in Monroe County. The population was 137,974 at the 2010 United States Census. The county seat is Bloomin ...

. He completed preparatory studies and attended Indiana Seminary which is now known as

Indiana University Indiana University (IU) is a system of public universities in the U.S. state of Indiana. Campuses Indiana University has two core campuses, five regional campuses, and two regional centers under the administration of IUPUI. *Indiana Universit ...

in Bloomington. Due to a dispute with a professor, Dunn left the school in his third year.

Career

In 1833, Dunn moved to Switzerland County, Indiana to teach school. He later moved to Bedford, Indiana to study law. Dunn was admitted to the bar in 1835 and partnered with Richard W. Thompson to practice law in Bedford. In 1842, he became the prosecuting attorney of

Lawrence County, Indiana Lawrence County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2010, the population was 46,134. The county seat is Bedford. Lawrence County comprises the Bedford, IN Micropolitan Statistical Area. History Until the Battle of Tippeca ...

. Dunn served in several political offices. He was well known for his passionate oratory skills. Dunn was elected as a Whig to the Thirtieth Congress (March 4, 1847 – March 3, 1849). He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1848. Dunn served in the Indiana Senate from 1850 until 1852, when he resigned to oversee his law practice. An opponent of slavery, Dunn was drawn back into politics after the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act which expanded slavery. Dunn was elected as an Indiana People's Party candidate to the Thirty-fourth Congress (March 4, 1855 – March 3, 1857). He was in poor health for much of his term and did not seek renomination in 1856.

Marriage and family

In 1841, Dunn married Julia Fell. They had four children: Moses Fell Dunn (1842-1915), Samuel Dunn (1844-1845), Julia M Dunn (1845-1845), and George Grundy Dunn (1846-1891).

Death

Dunn died in Bedford, Indiana, on September 4, 1857. He was interred in Green Hill Cemetery in Bedford.

References

External links

Archives Online at Indiana University: Dunn family collection, 1851-1974, bulk 1851-1955

Archives Online at Indiana University: Dunn mss., 1834-1850Archives Online at Indiana University: Dunn mss. II, 1831-1864
1812 births 1857 deaths People from Washington County, Kentucky Whig Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Indiana Opposition Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Indiana Indiana state senators People from Monroe County, Indiana People from Bedford, Indiana 19th-century American politicians Burials in Indiana {{Indiana-politician-stub