Stephen A. Hurlbut
| Stephen Augustus Hurlbut | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 4th district |
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In office March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1877 |
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| Preceded by | John B. Hawley |
| Succeeded by | William Lathrop |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
November 29, 1815 Charleston, South Carolina |
| Died | March 27, 1882 (aged 66) Lima, Peru |
| Political party | Republican |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |
 United States of AmericaUnion |
| Service/branch |
 United States ArmyUnion Army |
| Years of service | 1861–1865 |
| Rank |
 Major General
|
| Commands |
XVI Corps Department of the Gulf |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
Stephen Augustus Hurlbut (November 29, 1815 – March 27, 1882), was a politician, diplomat, and commander of the U.S. Army of the Gulf in the American Civil War.
Born in Charleston, South Carolina to Martin Luther Hurlbut and Lydia Bunce. His father was a Unitarian minister and educator. Hurlbut studied law with James L. Petigru as his mentor, worked for him as a law clerk, and was admitted to the South Carolina Bar in 1837. During the Second Seminole War, he served as adjutant of a South Carolina infantry regiment. In 1845, Hurlbut relocated to Illinois, where he established a law practice in Belvidere. He started his own family in 1847 after marrying Sophronia R. Stevens; she gave birth to two of his children.
In 1847, Hurlbut took part in the Illinois constitutional convention as a Whig delegate. He served as a presidential elector for the Whig Party in the 1848 Presidential Election, and became acquainted with Abraham Lincoln during campaigning for Old Rough and Ready Zachary Taylor. He was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives in 1859, and re-elected in 1861.
Hurlbut campaigned for Lincoln during the presidential election in 1860, and attended Lincoln's first inauguration on March 4, 1861. He and Colonel Ward H. Lamon performed a fact-finding mission on Lincoln's request, and visited Charleston on March 24–26, 1861, to investigate and report, "the actual state of feeling in this City & State." Lamon received a separate assighment from William H. Seward to visit Fort Sumter. On March 27, 1861, Hurlbut wrote a detailed report where he stated,
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