Sunday, April 18, 2010

James Henry Lane.


James Henry Lane.

Birth: Jun. 22, 1814, Lawrenceburg, Indiana.
Death: Jul. 11, 1866.

Photo provided by James Stanza.

American soldier and politician. Born in Lawrenceburg Indiana to Amos Lane, Lawyer and Democratic representative to Congress. James received a common school education and studied law in his fathers office and in 1840 was admitted to the bar. In the Mexican War he served as a Colonel in the 5th Indiana Regiment, which he raised. Lane was elected Lieutenant Governor of Indiana from 1849 to 1853, and from 1853 to 1855 was elected a Democratic member of Congress from Indiana. He emigrated to Kansas in 1855 and became 2nd in command of forces at Lawrence during the "Wakarusa War".

In 1856 was elected to the U.S. Senate under the Topeka Constitution, the validity of which Congress refused to recognize. He was indicted for treason and left Kansas for a while returning in August 1856. After Kansas was admitted to the Union in 1861 Lane was elected Senator and left for Washington. Arriving in the capital, Lane immediately raised a company to guard President Lincoln. After the war sided with President Andrew Johnson against the Radical Republicans making powerful enemies and was soon accused of being involved in fraudulent Indian contracts. Severely depressed while defending himself and in fragile mental health, he shot himself to death in 1866.

Authors Note. I would like to thank ( justin ) who allow me to repost his information here which was originally posted at ( Find a Grave.)

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