Republican National Convention The Republican National Convention was chaired by New Yorker Edwin D. Morgan — who called the Convention to order in Chicago in on May 16, 1861, “before the largest, most brilliant, and most enthusiastic party gathering yet seen in…” Abraham Lincoln and New York >

1860 Presidential Election New York was critical to Mr. Lincoln’s victory in 1860 but internal divisions among New York Republicans made victory problematical. Not only political consensus but commercial consensus seemed elusive. “Several groups in New York opposed…” Abraham Lincoln and New York >

Mr. Lincoln and New York Politics New York City and New York State played an important role in Mr. Lincoln’s accession to the Presidency and in his performance as President. But New York City was also a center of anti-Lincoln fervent and… Abraham Lincoln and New York >

Fernando Wood (1812-1881) It was in New York City, rather than Washington, where Wood made his mark. Although he was no longer Mayor when Draft riots broke out in July 1863, some historians have suggested that the riots reaped seeds that Wood had… Abraham Lincoln and New York >

Dean Richmond (1804-1866) Dean Richmond “was one of those original men of great brain-power, force, and character, knowledge of men, and executive ability, of which that period had a number,” wrote New York Republican Chauncey M. Depew, who followed Richmond into… Abraham Lincoln and New York >

Daniel Sickles (1819-1914) Daniel Sickles was an expert at reinventing himself and ingratiating himself with Presidents. Before the Civil War, Congressman Sickles had been arrested for killing his wife’s lover, District of Columbia District Attorney… Abraham Lincoln and New York >

Horatio Seymour (1810-1886) When Seymour was nominated for Governor in 1862, Navy Secretary Gideon Welles wrote that he “has smartness, but not firm, rigid principles. He is an inveterate partisan, place-hunter, fond of office and not always…” Abraham Lincoln and New York >

Moses F. Odell (1818-1866) Brooklyn Congressman Moses F. Odell’s service in Washington coincided with the Civil War. He had the distinction of being the token Democratic House member of Joint Committee on Conduct of War. “Although Odell did not always agree with…” Abraham Lincoln and New York >

George B. McClellan (1826-1885) Unlike President Lincoln, McClellan was consumed by self-importance. Braggadocio was not in Mr. Lincoln’s vocabulary but it was in McClellan’s. After he took over as commander of the Army of the Potomac on July 27, 1861, he wrote his wife: “I find myself in a new…” Abraham Lincoln and New York […]

John A. Dix (1798-1879) General John A. Dix never served on the front lines of the Civil War, but he was frequently in the thick of conflict. Whether it was handling disloyal rebels in Maryland or handling rebellious draft protestors in New York, Dix managed to be in the middle of dissent and… Abraham Lincoln […]