US Congressman. A son of a Pennsylvania carpenter he went from humble dwellings to become one of the most powerful members of Congress during the Civil War and Reconstruction periods. A native of Mercer, Pennsylvania he moved to Cadiz Ohio in 1849 opened a law practice and quickly gained fame as a popular and powerful speaker. He used his speaking ability to campaign for William Henry Harrison during the 1840 Presidential election. He became active in local politics and served as a Congressman representing Ohio from 1855 to 1863 and again from 1865 to 1873. He was an early proponent for emancipation. In January of 1864, after losing his reelection bid, President Lincoln appointed the "Radical Republican" judge-advocate of the Union army with the rank of major. The following year he would help present the government's case in the conspiracy trial of Abraham Lincoln's assassins. During his first post-war term the Congressman became a leader in the attempt to impeach Andrew Johnson, because of the the President's removal of Edwin Stanton as Secretary of War. The eloquent orator chaired the House committee that argued the articles of impeachment during the Senate trial and he gave the closing three-day summation. He is also credited with writing the first section of the Fourteenth Amendment to the US Constitution, which forbids slavery by any other name. After his final term in Congress he went to Japan as a US Minister. He stayed in that position twelve years before returning to Cadiz where he died five years later.
US Congressman. A son of a Pennsylvania carpenter he went from humble dwellings to become one of the most powerful members of Congress during the Civil War and Reconstruction periods. A native of Mercer, Pennsylvania he moved to Cadiz Ohio in 1849 opened a law practice and quickly gained fame as a popular and powerful speaker. He used his speaking ability to campaign for William Henry Harrison during the 1840 Presidential election. He became active in local politics and served as a Congressman representing Ohio from 1855 to 1863 and again from 1865 to 1873. He was an early proponent for emancipation. In January of 1864, after losing his reelection bid, President Lincoln appointed the "Radical Republican" judge-advocate of the Union army with the rank of major. The following year he would help present the government's case in the conspiracy trial of Abraham Lincoln's assassins. During his first post-war term the Congressman became a leader in the attempt to impeach Andrew Johnson, because of the the President's removal of Edwin Stanton as Secretary of War. The eloquent orator chaired the House committee that argued the articles of impeachment during the Senate trial and he gave the closing three-day summation. He is also credited with writing the first section of the Fourteenth Amendment to the US Constitution, which forbids slavery by any other name. After his final term in Congress he went to Japan as a US Minister. He stayed in that position twelve years before returning to Cadiz where he died five years later.
Bio by: Bigwoo
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In Memory of John A Bingham and His Dear Wife Amanda 1815 - 1900 1825 - 1891
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