• Home
• Politicians
• Elihu B. Washburne

Elihu B. Washburne Politician

Elihu Benjamin Washburne (September 23, 1816 – October 23, 1887) was an American politician and diplomat. A member of the Washburn family of Maine, which played a prominent role in the early formation of the United States Republican Party, Washburne served as a congressman from Illinois before and during the American Civil War, and was a political ally of President Abraham Lincoln and General (later President) Ulysses S. Grant.As a leader of the Radical Republicans, Washburne opposed the Reconstruction policies of President Andrew Johnson and supported African American suffrage and civil rights. Washburne was appointed United States Secretary of State in 1869 by President Grant, out of respect for his championship in the House during the Civil War, and to give Washburne diplomatic clout after being appointed minister to France. Washburne's tenure as Secretary of State lasted for only eleven days, but he would serve as minister to France for the next eight years, where he became known for diplomatic integrity and for his humanitarian support of Americans and Germans in France during the Franco-Prussian War.

Personal facts

Birth date	September 23, 1816
Birth place	Livermore Maine , United States
Religion	Presbyterianism
Date of death	October 23, 1887
Place of death	Chicago , United States
Resting place	Greenwood Cemetery (Galena Illinois)
Education	Harvard University
Profession	Politician

• facebook
• tumblr
• linkedin
• twitter
• reddit
• google+