Abraham Rencher (August 12, 1798 – July 6, 1883) was a politician from the state of North Carolina. His career included: Congressman; Chargé d'affaires to Portugal; and Governor of New Mexico Territory.
He was elected as a Jacksonian to the Twenty-first and Twenty-second Congresses, as an Anti-Jacksonian to the Twenty-third and Twenty-fourth Congresses, and as a Whig to the Twenty-fifth Congress, serving from March 4, 1829, to March 3, 1839. He declined to be a candidate for renomination in 1838.
In 1840 Rencher was again elected to Congress as a Whig, and he served one term, March 4, 1841, to March 3, 1843 (the Twenty-seventh Congress). He declined to be candidate for renomination in 1842 on the grounds of ill health.
From 1857 to 1861 Rencher served as Governor of New Mexico Territory, appointed by President Buchanan. Rencher had previously declined Buchanan's suggestion to become Secretary of the Navy, lobbying instead for the Governor position. He was appointed on August 17, 1857, and arrived in Santa Fe on November 11. While in office Rencher clashed with the military and was critical of their campaign against the Indians. Rencher was successful in passing legislation requiring all children to attend school. He also lowered the territory's debt significantly. He was a slaveholder[2] and in 1859, he signed legislation defining and protecting the status of slaves as property. However, at the beginning of the Civil War Rencher remained loyal to the Union and raised regiments to defend the territory. President Abraham Lincoln did not reappoint Rencher, and he left office in August 1861.[1]
After leaving New Mexico Rencher returned to his home in Pittsboro, where he lived in retirement. He was a supporter of the Union and took no active part in the Civil War.
He died in Chapel Hill, North Carolina on July 6, 1883, and was interred at St. Bartholomew's Protestant Episcopal Churchyard in Pittsboro.
Familyedit
In 1836 Rencher married Louisa Mary Jones, daughter of Colonel Edward and Elizabeth Mallett Jones. They had four children.
Referencesedit
^ abc"Abraham Rencher". New Mexico History. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
^Weil, Julie Zauzmer; Blanco, Adrian; Dominguez, Leo (20 January 2022). "More than 1,700 congressmen once enslaved Black people. This is who they were, and how they shaped the nation". Washington Post. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
abraham, rencher, august, 1798, july, 1883, politician, from, state, north, carolina, career, included, congressman, chargé, affaires, portugal, governor, mexico, territory, mexico, territory, governor, biography, editrencher, born, near, raleigh, north, carol. Abraham Rencher August 12 1798 July 6 1883 was a politician from the state of North Carolina His career included Congressman Charge d affaires to Portugal and Governor of New Mexico Territory Abraham Rencher New Mexico Territory Governor Biography editRencher was born near Raleigh North Carolina on August 12 1798 to John Grant the county sheriff and Ann Nelson Rencher 1 He was tutored at home and attended the common schools and Pittsboro Academy He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1822 studied law with Frederick Nash was admitted to the bar in 1825 and commenced practice in Pittsboro North Carolina He was elected as a Jacksonian to the Twenty first and Twenty second Congresses as an Anti Jacksonian to the Twenty third and Twenty fourth Congresses and as a Whig to the Twenty fifth Congress serving from March 4 1829 to March 3 1839 He declined to be a candidate for renomination in 1838 In 1840 Rencher was again elected to Congress as a Whig and he served one term March 4 1841 to March 3 1843 the Twenty seventh Congress He declined to be candidate for renomination in 1842 on the grounds of ill health Rencher served as U S Charge d affaires to Portugal from 1843 to 1847 appointed by President John Tyler 1 From 1857 to 1861 Rencher served as Governor of New Mexico Territory appointed by President Buchanan Rencher had previously declined Buchanan s suggestion to become Secretary of the Navy lobbying instead for the Governor position He was appointed on August 17 1857 and arrived in Santa Fe on November 11 While in office Rencher clashed with the military and was critical of their campaign against the Indians Rencher was successful in passing legislation requiring all children to attend school He also lowered the territory s debt significantly He was a slaveholder 2 and in 1859 he signed legislation defining and protecting the status of slaves as property However at the beginning of the Civil War Rencher remained loyal to the Union and raised regiments to defend the territory President Abraham Lincoln did not reappoint Rencher and he left office in August 1861 1 After leaving New Mexico Rencher returned to his home in Pittsboro where he lived in retirement He was a supporter of the Union and took no active part in the Civil War He died in Chapel Hill North Carolina on July 6 1883 and was interred at St Bartholomew s Protestant Episcopal Churchyard in Pittsboro Family editIn 1836 Rencher married Louisa Mary Jones daughter of Colonel Edward and Elizabeth Mallett Jones They had four children References edit a b c Abraham Rencher New Mexico History Retrieved 20 January 2019 Weil Julie Zauzmer Blanco Adrian Dominguez Leo 20 January 2022 More than 1 700 congressmen once enslaved Black people This is who they were and how they shaped the nation Washington Post Retrieved 30 January 2022 United States Congress Abraham Rencher id R000162 Biographical Directory of the United States Congress U S House of RepresentativesPreceded byJohn Long Member of the U S House of Representativesfrom North Carolina s 10th congressional district1829 1839 Succeeded byCharles FisherPreceded byCharles Fisher Member of the U S House of Representativesfrom North Carolina s 10th congressional district1841 1843 Succeeded byDistrict inactive Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Abraham Rencher amp oldid 1175239227, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
