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Dromo's Den
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[Up] [Dromo's Den] Horatio Seymour Biography SEYMOUR,
Horatio (1810-86). An American political leader, the son of Henry Seymour, a
colleague of De Witt Clinton. He was born at Pompey Hill, Onondaga Co., N. Y.,
educated at Geneva Academy (later Hobart College) and at Middletown (Conn.)
Military Academy, studied law at Utica, and in 1832 was admitted to the bar. In
1841, as chairman of the Canal Committee in the State Legislature, he prepared
an elaborate report, which served for many years as the basis of legislation in
connection with the State canals. In 1842-46 he was mayor of Utica and in 1852
became Governor of New York. The period of his governorship was marked by
factional strife and by a temperance movement which, on a second nomination,
resulted in his defeat. When the election of Lincoln made civil war seem
inevitable, he made efforts for a compromise, but later supported the Lincoln
administration. In 1862 he was again elected Governor. He advocated the vigorous
prosecution of the war, but protested against the extensive use of war powers by
Lincoln. He strove to keep New York's full quota of troops in the field. His
attitude in regard to draft riots in New York City in July, 1863, was the cause
of much criticism, but his measures proved efficacious. In 1868 he was president
of the Democratic National Convention which met in New York City, Seymour
himself receiving its presidential nomination. He received 80 electoral votes to
214 for Grant. After this he took no further part in
political affairs. Consult Croly, Seymour
and Blair: Their Lives and Services (New York, 1868), and Hartley, Horatio
Seymour (Utica, 1886). |