Lewis Cass

Date of Birth: October 9, 1782

Zodiac Sign: Libra

Date of Death: June 17, 1866

Biography

Lewis Cass was a prominent American soldier, politician, and statesman born on October 9, 1782, in Exeter, New Hampshire. He had a distinguished career that spanned several decades, during which he played key roles in both military and political arenas. Cass began his military career during the War of 1812, where he served with distinction and rose to the rank of Brigadier General. After the war, he transitioned into politics, serving as the Governor of the Michigan Territory from 1813 to 1831, where he was instrumental in expanding American settlement in the region. Cass was also a significant figure in national politics. He served as Secretary of War under President Andrew Jackson, U.S. Minister to France, a U.S. Senator from Michigan, and Secretary of State under President James Buchanan. Throughout his career, Cass was known for his advocacy of westward expansion and his controversial stance on popular sovereignty regarding the issue of slavery in new territories. He was the Democratic nominee for President in 1848 but lost to Zachary Taylor.

5 Interesting Facts about Lewis Cass

1. Lewis Cass was instrumental in negotiating several treaties with Native American tribes, which facilitated U.S. territorial expansion.

2. He coined the term “popular sovereignty,” which allowed settlers of a territory to decide the status of slavery themselves.

3. Cass was a prominent figure in the Democratic Party and was considered a leading candidate for the presidency multiple times.

4. He was appointed U.S. Minister to France from 1836 to 1842, where he strengthened Franco-American relations.

5. Cass was a key supporter of the Compromise of 1850, which aimed to ease tensions between free and slave states.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Lewis Cass

1. “The Constitution, in all its provisions, looks to an indestructible Union composed of indestructible States.”

2. “We are at the commencement of a new era. The wants of the age are demanding new vigor and new enterprises.”

3. “A state of war only shows how incomplete the safeguards of peace and prosperity are.”

4. “The destiny of the United States ought to be to extend itself over the whole North American continent.”

5. “The principle of popular sovereignty is the basis of all democratic government.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Lewis Cass’s highest net worth is estimated to have been approximately $200,000, a considerable sum for his era.

Children

Lewis Cass had seven children with his wife, Elizabeth Spencer Cass. Their names were: 1. Mary Sophia Cass 2. Elizabeth Cass 3. Matilda Cass 4. Lewis Cass Jr. 5. Ellen Cass 6. Isabella Cass 7. Augustus Cass