US Congressman and US Senator. A member of the Democratic Party, he served in the US House of Representatives from Indiana's 9th congressional district for two terms, from March 1849 until March 1853, then as US Senator from February 1857 until March 1861. After studying medicine at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, he moved to Logansport, Indiana in 1834 and established a medical practice. In 1836 he entered politics and was elected to the Indiana state legislature in 1836. From 1844 until 1848 he was a professor of anatomy at the Rush Medical College in Chicago, Illinois. In 1848 he was elected the US House of Representatives and was not a candidate for renomination in 1852 and resumed his medical practice. In 1857 he was elected to the US Senate to fill a vacancy in the term beginning March 1855, and served from February 1857 until to March 1861, and was not a candidate for reelection in 1860. While in the Senate, he was chairman of the Committee on Printing. Following the outbreak of the American Civil War in April 1861, he raised the 46th Indiana Infantry. He served as its colonel before being promoted to command of a brigade. During the battles of New Madrid and Battle of Island Number Ten, he commanded the 2nd Brigade of Brigadier General John M. Palmer's infantry division. He also participated in the capture of Fort Pillow and Memphis. he then later commanded the Union infantry forces at Saint Charles in Arkansas. In late 1862 he resigned his commission because of injuries received in action and returned home and resumed his medical practice. He died at the age of 82. His grandson, Esinn Denby, served in the US House of Representatives from Michigan and was also Secretary of the Navy.
US Congressman and US Senator. A member of the Democratic Party, he served in the US House of Representatives from Indiana's 9th congressional district for two terms, from March 1849 until March 1853, then as US Senator from February 1857 until March 1861. After studying medicine at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, he moved to Logansport, Indiana in 1834 and established a medical practice. In 1836 he entered politics and was elected to the Indiana state legislature in 1836. From 1844 until 1848 he was a professor of anatomy at the Rush Medical College in Chicago, Illinois. In 1848 he was elected the US House of Representatives and was not a candidate for renomination in 1852 and resumed his medical practice. In 1857 he was elected to the US Senate to fill a vacancy in the term beginning March 1855, and served from February 1857 until to March 1861, and was not a candidate for reelection in 1860. While in the Senate, he was chairman of the Committee on Printing. Following the outbreak of the American Civil War in April 1861, he raised the 46th Indiana Infantry. He served as its colonel before being promoted to command of a brigade. During the battles of New Madrid and Battle of Island Number Ten, he commanded the 2nd Brigade of Brigadier General John M. Palmer's infantry division. He also participated in the capture of Fort Pillow and Memphis. he then later commanded the Union infantry forces at Saint Charles in Arkansas. In late 1862 he resigned his commission because of injuries received in action and returned home and resumed his medical practice. He died at the age of 82. His grandson, Esinn Denby, served in the US House of Representatives from Michigan and was also Secretary of the Navy.
Bio by: William Bjornstad
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