Early life and career
Stanton was born in Alexandria, Virginia, Alexandria, District of Columbia (now Virginia) on Dec. 22, 1814, son of Richard and Harriet Perry Stanton and brother of Richard H. Stanton. His father Richard was a soldier in the American Revolutionary War, and afterwards became a bricklayer (a skill that he later taught his son). His elder brother Richard Henry Stanton (1812-1891) would move to Kentucky and also became a U.S. Congressman, serving from 1849 until 1855, and later becoming a state judge. His younger brother Thomas Stanton (1825-1900) would move to Michigan. The family also included brothers John and Richard and four sister, one of whom Jane Perry Gookin, would move to Tennessee with her children and their mother to live with this brother and his family.Education
Stanton was taught at an early age by the Quaker teacher Benjamin Hallowell (educator), Benjamin Hallowell. Stanton subsequently attended Columbian University to study classical studies, and he graduated in 1833 at age 19.Teaching and law careers
After graduating, Stanton taught for a while in Virginia, then at a college in North Carolina. At the time, he prepared to enter a Baptist ministry, but instead focused on law. In 1834, Stanton was admitted to theCareer
House of Representatives
Elected as a Democratic Party (United States), Democrat to the Twenty-ninth United States Congress, Twenty-ninth Congress and the four succeeding Congresses, Stanton served from March 4, 1845 to March 3, 1855. After winning his first election, his chagrined Whig opponent shot Stanton in the neck with a pistol. During the Thirty-first United States Congress, Thirty-first and Thirty-second United States Congress, Thirty-second Congresses, he was chairman of the United States House Committee on Naval Affairs, Committee on Naval Affairs, and during the Thirty-third United States Congress, Thirty-third Congress he was chairman of the United States House Committee on the Judiciary, Committee on the Judiciary.Years in Kansas
Stanton served as the governor of Kansas Territory from 1858 to 1861, according to the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. However, according to the Lecompton, Kansas, Lecompton Historical Society, he instead served as acting governor from April 15, 1857 to May 27, 1857 and from November 16, 1857 to December 21, 1857. On April 1 of that year, he had been appointed Secretary of Kansas Territory, and he held that office until December 21. He was twice proposed as a United States Senator, the first time in 1859 contingent upon the admission of Kansas under the Lecompton Constitution, the second in 1861 when incumbent senator James Henry Lane (Union general), James H. Lane was offered a commission in the United States Army, but both times no such opportunity materialized.Later life
At the beginning of the American Civil War, Civil War Stanton joined the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party. In 1861 he opened a law office in Washington, D. C., for practice in the Supreme Court of the United States. In his later years Stanton was active in efforts for world peace. He was president of the International Peace League, and was a delegate to the Richmond convention in 1882. He was also president of the National Arbitration League of America, and opened its inaugural convention in Washington in 1882. Three years later, Stanton moved to Florida for his health, and resided in that state until his death.Death and legacy
Stanton died near Ocala, Marion County, Florida on June 4, 1894 (age 79 years, 164 days). He is burial, interred at South Lake Weir Cemetery at South Lake Weir, Florida. A marble bust of Gov. Stanton is among the collections of the Kansas Historical Society.References
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