Lewis Cass
Lewis Cass was a Democratic politician, the military governor of the Michigan Territory, secretary of war, congressman, and secretary of state.
Contents
History
Cass served in the army during the War of 1812.
In 1813 he was appointed governor of the Michigan territory. He negotiated land cessions with many nations: Patowatomi, Odawa, Ojibwe, Wyandot, Mingo, Lenape, and Shawnee. He negotiated the Treaty of Fort Meigs and the first Treaty of Chicago.
Jackson appointed him as secretary of war. He directed and implemented the federal government's removal policy.
He later served as ambassador to France.
In 1844, he unsuccessfully pursued the Democratic nomination for president. He and Van Buren competed on the subject of slavery. Polk capitalized on the division to secure the nomination instead.
The Michigan Legislature appointed him to the Senate in 1845, where he remained until he was nominated the Democratic nominee in 1848. However, Van Buren once again spoiled his ticket, by established the Free Soil Party.
He was returned to the Senate for Michigan in 1849.
Cass was appointed secretary of state under Buchanon.