David Lawrence Gregg (July 21, 1819 – December 23, 1868) was an American politician from New York State. He rose to prominence in Illinois politics, first in the Illinois House of Representatives, then as United States Attorney, and Illinois Secretary of State. In 1853, Franklin Pierce appointed Gregg the Commissioner to the Kingdom of Hawaii to negotiate its annexation at the request of its king, Kamehameha III. In response, he cited the U.S. Constitution as not allowing annexation of a foreign state. (Texas had, in fact, been annexed a few years before with dubious legality.) His later years were spent in Carson City, Nevada.
David Lawrence Gregg was born in Richfield, New York State on July 21, 1819, the son of Asa Gregg and his wife Viletta (or Violetta) Seymour.He had at least one brother, DeRoss Gregg. He graduated from Union College, Schenectady, New York.[1] He then moved west and settled in Joliet, Illinois, to practice law. He edited the Juliet Courier, the first paper in Will County, Illinois. Gregg was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives in 1842, serving two two-year terms. Gregg then accepted an appointment by President James K. Polk as United States Attorney for the District of Illinois. He was a delegate to the Illinois Constitutional Convention of 1847, representing Cook County. In 1850, he was named the Illinois Secretary of State as a Democrat, filling the unexpired term of the deceased Horace S. Cooley. Gregg was then re-elected to a two-year term. He then was a presidential elector for the 1852 election. He was a leading candidate in 1852 for the Democratic nomination as Governor of Illinois, but was defeated by Joel Aldrich Matteson.[2]
President Franklin Pierce then appointed Gregg the Commissioner to the Kingdom of Hawaii. He was involved with unsuccessful annexation discussions with the Hawaiian monarchy. In 1857, he left the office to become Hawaiian finance minister. Gregg returned to the United States, settling in Carson City, Nevada. President Andrew Johnson commissioned him receiver of public moneys for the district of lands subject to sale in the city.[2]
Gregg married Eliza Byrne in LaSalle, Illinois on June 1, 1842.[3] Eliza died between 1845 and 1850. He married Rebecca Eads, daughter of Abner Eads, a powerful Illinois political figure, on September 1, 1850 in Galena, Illinois.[4] He died in Carson City on December 23, 1868, and was buried in Lone Mountain Cemetery.[2]
Referencesedit
^Obituary, Carson City Daily Appeal, 24 December 1868. Newspapers.com
^ abc"Original Letter". Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society. 9 (3): 311. October 1916.
david, gregg, david, lawrence, gregg, july, 1819, december, 1868, american, politician, from, york, state, rose, prominence, illinois, politics, first, illinois, house, representatives, then, united, states, attorney, illinois, secretary, state, 1853, franklin. David Lawrence Gregg July 21 1819 December 23 1868 was an American politician from New York State He rose to prominence in Illinois politics first in the Illinois House of Representatives then as United States Attorney and Illinois Secretary of State In 1853 Franklin Pierce appointed Gregg the Commissioner to the Kingdom of Hawaii to negotiate its annexation at the request of its king Kamehameha III In response he cited the U S Constitution as not allowing annexation of a foreign state Texas had in fact been annexed a few years before with dubious legality His later years were spent in Carson City Nevada David L GreggUnited States Commissioner to the Kingdom of HawaiiIn office December 20 1853 May 21 1858PresidentFranklin PiercePreceded byLuther SeveranceSucceeded byJames W Borden11th Illinois Secretary of StateIn office 1850 1853GovernorAugustus C FrenchPreceded byHorace S CooleySucceeded byAlexander StarneMinister of FinanceIn office May 26 1858 August 18 1862Preceded byRobert C WyllieSucceeded byRobert C WylliePersonal detailsBornJuly 21 1819Pennsylvania U S DiedDecember 23 1868 1868 12 23 aged 49 Carson City Nevada U S Political partyDemocraticSpousesEliza Byrne Rebecca EadsProfessionAttorney publisherBiography editDavid Lawrence Gregg was born in Richfield New York State on July 21 1819 the son of Asa Gregg and his wife Viletta or Violetta Seymour He had at least one brother DeRoss Gregg He graduated from Union College Schenectady New York 1 He then moved west and settled in Joliet Illinois to practice law He edited the Juliet Courier the first paper in Will County Illinois Gregg was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives in 1842 serving two two year terms Gregg then accepted an appointment by President James K Polk as United States Attorney for the District of Illinois He was a delegate to the Illinois Constitutional Convention of 1847 representing Cook County In 1850 he was named the Illinois Secretary of State as a Democrat filling the unexpired term of the deceased Horace S Cooley Gregg was then re elected to a two year term He then was a presidential elector for the 1852 election He was a leading candidate in 1852 for the Democratic nomination as Governor of Illinois but was defeated by Joel Aldrich Matteson 2 President Franklin Pierce then appointed Gregg the Commissioner to the Kingdom of Hawaii He was involved with unsuccessful annexation discussions with the Hawaiian monarchy In 1857 he left the office to become Hawaiian finance minister Gregg returned to the United States settling in Carson City Nevada President Andrew Johnson commissioned him receiver of public moneys for the district of lands subject to sale in the city 2 Gregg married Eliza Byrne in LaSalle Illinois on June 1 1842 3 Eliza died between 1845 and 1850 He married Rebecca Eads daughter of Abner Eads a powerful Illinois political figure on September 1 1850 in Galena Illinois 4 He died in Carson City on December 23 1868 and was buried in Lone Mountain Cemetery 2 References edit Obituary Carson City Daily Appeal 24 December 1868 Newspapers com a b c Original Letter Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society 9 3 311 October 1916 Marriage register Holy Cross St Patrick s Church LaSalle LaSalle County Genealogy Guild Illinois County Marriage Records 1800 1940 Ancestry comFurther reading editJoerger Pauline King A political biography of David Lawrence Gregg American diplomat and Hawaiian official Ayer 1982 King Pauline ed The Diaries of David Lawrence Gregg An American Diplomat in Hawaii 1853 1858 1982 Political offices Preceded byHorace S Cooley Secretary of State of Illinois1850 1853 Succeeded byAlexander Starne Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title David L Gregg amp oldid 1217512803, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
