Edward Bates

Edward Bates, born on September fourth, seventeen ninety-three, in Goochland County, Virginia, was a distinguished American lawyer, politician, and judge. He made significant contributions to the legal and political landscape of Missouri after relocating to St. Louis, where he established a successful legal practice. In eighteen twenty, he became the first attorney general of Missouri, marking the beginning of a prominent career in public service.

Over the next three decades, Bates emerged as a key figure in Missouri politics, serving in both the Missouri House of Representatives and the Missouri Senate. He was a member of the Whig Party and represented Missouri in the U.S. House of Representatives. Notably, he played a crucial role in a landmark freedom suit for Lucy Delaney, showcasing his commitment to justice.

As the Whig Party fragmented in the early eighteen fifties, Bates briefly aligned with the American Party before joining the Republican Party. He was a candidate for the presidency at the eighteen sixty Republican National Convention, although Abraham Lincoln ultimately secured the nomination. In eighteen sixty-one, at the onset of the American Civil War, Bates was appointed U.S. Attorney General, where he implemented early war policies but found himself at odds with Lincoln regarding the Emancipation Proclamation.

Despite his significant role in the Lincoln administration, Bates resigned from the Cabinet in eighteen sixty-four after being overlooked for a U.S. Supreme Court appointment. Following his departure from public office, he actively opposed the adoption of a new state constitution in Missouri, leaving a complex legacy in the annals of American history.