Joseph A. Wright

Joseph Albert Wright
United States Senator from Indiana
In office February 24, 1862 – January 14, 1863
Appointed by	Oliver P. Morton
Preceded by	Jesse D. Bright
Succeeded by	David Turpie
United States Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Prussia
In office September 3, 1865 – May 11, 1867
President	Andrew Johnson
Preceded by	Norman B. Judd
Succeeded by	George Bancroft
In office September 3, 1857 – July 1, 1861
President	James Buchanan
Preceded by	Peter Dumont Vroom
Succeeded by	Norman B. Judd
10th Governor of Indiana
In office December 5, 1849 – January 12, 1857
Lieutenant	Jim Lane Ashbel P. Willard
Preceded by	Paris C. Dunning
Succeeded by	Ashbel P. Willard
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Indiana's 7th district
In office March 4, 1843 – March 3, 1845
Preceded by	Henry S. Lane
Succeeded by	Edward W. McGaughey
Member of the Indiana House of Representatives
In office 1832
Personal details
Born	Joseph Albert Wright April 17, 1810 Washington, Pennsylvania
Died	May 11, 1867(1867-05-11) (aged 57) Berlin, Prussia
Political party	Democratic
Spouses	Louisa Cook ​ ​ (m. 1831; died 1852)​ Harriet Burbridge ​ ​ (m. 1854; died 1855)​ Caroline Rockwell ​ (m. 1863)​
Children	4
Alma mater	Indiana University Bloomington

Joseph Albert Wright (April 17, 1810 – May 11, 1867) was the tenth governor of the U.S. state of Indiana from December 5, 1849, to January 12, 1857, most noted for his opposition to banking. His positions created a rift between him and the Indiana General Assembly who overrode all of his anti-banking vetoes. He responded by launching legal challenges to the acts, but was ruled against by the Indiana Supreme Court. The state's second constitutional convention was held during 1850–1851 in which the current Constitution of Indiana was drafted. He was a supporter of the new constitution and gave speeches around the state urging its adoption. He was opposed throughout his term by Senator Jesse D. Bright, the leader of the state Democratic Party.

After his term as governor, he was appointed to serve as United States Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Prussia where he served until the outbreak of the American Civil War. Although he was a Democrat, he was openly pro-Union during the war, and was elected to serve as a United States senator, filling the term of Copperhead Jesse D. Bright, who was expelled from the Senate for disloyalty. Following the war he was reappointed to his ambassadorial post where he remained until his death in Berlin, Prussia.