|
| Affiliation | Liberal Republican |
|
| Name | Gustavus Koerner |
| Address |
Belleville, Illinois , United States |
| Email | None |
| Website | None |
| Born |
November 20, 1809
|
| Died | April 09, 1896
(86 years)
|
| Contributor | Thomas Walker |
| Last Modifed | ev
Oct 06, 2018 09:17pm |
| Tags |
German -
|
| Info | Gustavus Koerner was born in Germany and graduated from the University of Heidleburg with a law degree in 1832. He immigrated to the United States in 1833 and settled in Bellville, Illinois.
In 1842 he was elected to the State Legislature serving one two-year term. In 1845 he was appointed to the Illinois Supreme Court as a judge for the Second Judicial Circuit. He also served as Lieutenant Governor from 1853-1857. Originally a Democrat, he became a staunch member of the newly created Republican Party. He helped write the party’s strong antislavery platform. As a friend of Abraham Lincoln he took over some of Lincoln’s cases when the later was elected President.
In 1861 he wrote Lincoln to say General John C. “Frontier” Freemont had asked him to join his staff and would Lincoln please expedite his commission as a Colonel. Soon, Koerner was not happy with his position however, and President Lincoln asked him to take a new job. In 1862, he was appointed as Minister to Spain. He returned to Illinois in 1864 but withdrew from politics after criticism Lincoln “brought” him home to secure the German vote in his upcoming re-election bid.
He was an active member of Belleville society and founded the city’s public library. He wrote two books: Out of Spain (1867) and The German Element in the United States of America (1880). Gustavus died in Belleville on April 9, 1896.
[Link] |
 | BOOKS |
 |
|
| Title |
Purchase |
Contributor |
|
| Start Date |
End Date |
Type |
Title |
Contributor |
|
| Date |
Category |
Headline |
Article |
Contributor |
|
| INFORMATION LINKS |
|
|
|
