US Congressman, US Senator, Connecticut Governor, Presidential Cabinet Secretary. A trained lawyer, he had a political career that lasted twenty six years. He was first elected as a Democrat to represent Connecticut's 1st Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives, serving from 1835 to 1839. After an initial unsuccessful attempt, he was elected Governor of Connecticut, serving from 1846 to 1847. In 1848 he was appointed and confirmed as United States Attorney General in the Administration of President James K. Polk, serving in that office until the end of President Polk's term in March 1849. He was then elected as a Democratic Senator from Connecticut to the United States Senate, serving a single term from 1851 to 1857. His term was marked by his support of President Franklin Peirce's moderate sectional policies and agenda. After leaving his Senate seat, he was lastly appointed by President James Buchanan as Secretary of the Navy, which he served in through the length of President Buchanan's Administration. When Abraham Lincoln assumed the Presidency in 1861, he replaced Isaac Toucey with Gideon Welles, a long time Connecticut rival, as Naval Secretary. Toucey then returned to his native Hartford, Connecticut, where he resumed his private law practice until he passed away in 1869. The World War I-era "Clemson"-class United States Navy destroyer "USS Toucey" (DD-282) was named in his honor.
US Congressman, US Senator, Connecticut Governor, Presidential Cabinet Secretary. A trained lawyer, he had a political career that lasted twenty six years. He was first elected as a Democrat to represent Connecticut's 1st Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives, serving from 1835 to 1839. After an initial unsuccessful attempt, he was elected Governor of Connecticut, serving from 1846 to 1847. In 1848 he was appointed and confirmed as United States Attorney General in the Administration of President James K. Polk, serving in that office until the end of President Polk's term in March 1849. He was then elected as a Democratic Senator from Connecticut to the United States Senate, serving a single term from 1851 to 1857. His term was marked by his support of President Franklin Peirce's moderate sectional policies and agenda. After leaving his Senate seat, he was lastly appointed by President James Buchanan as Secretary of the Navy, which he served in through the length of President Buchanan's Administration. When Abraham Lincoln assumed the Presidency in 1861, he replaced Isaac Toucey with Gideon Welles, a long time Connecticut rival, as Naval Secretary. Toucey then returned to his native Hartford, Connecticut, where he resumed his private law practice until he passed away in 1869. The World War I-era "Clemson"-class United States Navy destroyer "USS Toucey" (DD-282) was named in his honor.
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