Edwin Stanton

Edwin Stanton
Photograph c. 1866-1869
Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States-Designate
In office Died before assuming office
Nominated by	Ulysses S. Grant
Preceded by	Robert Cooper Grier
Succeeded by	William Strong
27th United States Secretary of War
In office January 20, 1862 – May 28, 1868[Note 1]
President	Abraham Lincoln Andrew Johnson
Preceded by	Simon Cameron
Succeeded by	John Schofield
25th United States Attorney General
In office December 20, 1860 – March 4, 1861
President	James Buchanan
Preceded by	Jeremiah Black
Succeeded by	Edward Bates
Personal details
Born	Edwin McMasters Stanton (1814-12-19)December 19, 1814 Steubenville, Ohio, U.S.
Died	December 24, 1869(1869-12-24) (aged 55) Washington, D.C., U.S.
Resting place	Oak Hill Cemetery, Washington, D.C., U.S.
Political party	Democratic (before 1862) Republican (1862–1869)
Spouses	Mary Lamson ​ (m. 1836⁠–⁠1844)​ Ellen Hutchison ​ (m. 1856)​
Parents	David Stanton (father) Lucy Norman (mother)
Education	Kenyon College
Signature

Edwin McMasters Stanton (December 19, 1814 – December 24, 1869) was an American lawyer and politician who served as U.S. Secretary of War under the Lincoln Administration during most of the American Civil War. Stanton's management helped organize the massive military resources of the North and guide the Union to victory. However, he was criticized by many Union generals, who perceived him as overcautious and micromanagerial.^[1] He also organized the manhunt for Abraham Lincoln's assassin, John Wilkes Booth.

After Lincoln's assassination, Stanton remained as the Secretary of War under the new US president, Andrew Johnson, during the first years of Reconstruction. He opposed the lenient policies of Johnson towards the former Confederate States. Johnson's attempt to dismiss Stanton ultimately led to Johnson being impeached by the Radical Republicans in the House of Representatives. Stanton returned to law after he retired as Secretary of War. In 1869, he was nominated as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court by Johnson's successor, Ulysses S. Grant, but Stanton died four days after his nomination was confirmed by the Senate. He remains the only confirmed nominee to accept but die before serving on the Court.

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