Walter Gresham | |
---|---|
33rd United States Secretary of State | |
In office March 7, 1893 – May 28, 1895 |
|
President | Grover Cleveland |
Preceded by | John Foster |
Succeeded by | Richard Olney |
Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit | |
In office June 16, 1891 – March 3, 1893 |
|
Preceded by | Seat established |
Succeeded by | James Jenkins |
Judge of the United States Circuit Court for the Seventh Circuit | |
In office October 28, 1884 – June 16, 1891 |
|
Appointed by | Chester Arthur |
Preceded by | Thomas Drummond |
Succeeded by | Seat abolished |
35th United States Secretary of the Treasury | |
In office September 5, 1884 – October 28, 1884 |
|
President | Chester Arthur |
Preceded by | Charles Folger |
Succeeded by | Hugh McCulloch |
31st United States Postmaster General | |
In office April 9, 1883 – September 4, 1884 |
|
President | Chester Arthur |
Preceded by | Timothy Howe |
Succeeded by | Frank Hatton |
Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Indiana | |
In office September 1, 1869 – April 9, 1883 |
|
Appointed by | Ulysses Grant |
Preceded by | David McDonald |
Succeeded by | William Woods |
Personal details | |
Born |
Walter Quintin Gresham March 17, 1832 Lanesville, Indiana, U.S. |
Died | May 28, 1895 Washington, D.C., U.S. |
(aged 63)
Political party |
Whig (Before 1854) Republican (1854–1892) Democratic (1892–1895) |
Spouse(s) | Matilda McGrain |
Education | Indiana University, Bloomington |
Military service | |
Allegiance |
United States • Union |
Service/branch |
United States Army • Union Army |
Years of service | 1861–1864 |
Rank | Brigadier General |
Battles/wars | American Civil War |
Walter Quintin Gresham (March 17, 1832 – May 28, 1895) was an American statesman and jurist. He served as United States Postmaster General, as a judge on the United States Courts of Appeals, was a two-time candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, was Secretary of State, and Secretary of the Treasury. He was also an officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
He was born near Lanesville, Indiana, to William Gresham (1802–1834) and his wife Sarah Davis. William had been elected a Colonel in the militia of Indiana. He was a member of the Whig Party and was elected Sheriff of Harrison County, Indiana. On January 26, 1834, William was fatally stabbed while assisting in the arrest of Levi Sipes, a so-called "desperado".
His paternal grandparents were George Gresham (born 1776) and Mary Pennington. George was born in Virginia but later settled in Kentucky. He moved to Indiana in 1809. Mary was the only sister of Dennis Pennington, speaker of the first Indiana Senate.
George was a son of Lawrence Gresham. Lawrence was born in England but moved to the Colony of Virginia in 1759. He initially served as an indentured servant of an uncle. He was released from service upon reaching adulthood. He later served in the Continental Army. He married Sarah O'Neal. Lawrence followed his son to Kentucky and Indiana well into his old age.