Caleb Lyon
| Caleb Lyon | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| 2nd Governor of Idaho Territory | |
|
In office 1864–1865 |
|
| Preceded by | William H. Wallace |
| Succeeded by | David W. Ballard |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 23rd district | |
|
In office March 4, 1853 – March 3, 1855 |
|
| Preceded by | Leander Babcock |
| Succeeded by | William A. Gilbert |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
December 7, 1822 Greig, New York |
| Died | September 8, 1875 (aged 52) Rossville, Staten Island, New York |
| Political party | Independent (1850s), Republican (1860s) |
Caleb Lyon (December 7, 1822 Greig, New York – September 8, 1875 Staten Island, New York) was Governor of Idaho Territory from 1864 to 1865 during the last half of the American Civil War.
Caleb Lyon was the son of Marietta Henrietta Dupont (1788–1869) and Caleb Lyon (1761–1835). In 1841, he married Mary Ann Springsteen (1823–1881). They had a son Caleb (b. 1842) and a daughter Henrietta Frederica (b. 1843).
He attended and graduated from the American, Literary, and Scientific Institute (later Norwich University) Class of 1841.
In 1847 he was appointed US Consul to Shanghai, but never made it to China – instead he moved to California, and was credited as the designer of the California State Seal adopted in 1849, although the actual design was by Robert S. Garnett.
Lyon was an Independent member of the New York State Assembly (Lewis Co.) in 1851. He resigned his seat on April 26, and was elected to the New York State Senate on May 27, serving during the 74th New York State Legislature's special session in June/July 1851. Lyon was elected as an Independent to the 33rd United States Congress, holding office from March 4, 1853, to March 3, 1855.
Appointed by President Abraham Lincoln in 1864, as Governor of Idaho Territory, Lyon proved to be extremely unpopular. One journalist wrote he was "a conceited, peculiar man, who made many enemies and misappropriated much of the public funds." During Lyon's administration, the territorial capital was moved from Lewiston to Boise, reputedly because Lyon thought it was better to have the capital in a larger city.
Lyon started a diamond-prospecting frenzy when he claimed that a prospector had found a diamond near Ruby City, Idaho. Although hundreds of men staked claims, no genuine diamonds were found as a result.
...
Wikipedia