Henry D. Washburn
Encyclopedia
Henry Dana Washburn was a U.S. Representative
from Indiana
and a general in the Union Army
during the American Civil War
.
, Washburn attended the common schools. He became a tanner and a currier, and taught school for several years. He moved to Vermillion County, Indiana
, in 1850. He graduated from the New York State and National Law School
and was admitted to the bar
in 1853. He commenced the practice of law in Newport, Indiana
. Entering politics, he served as the county auditor from 1854-1861.
With the outbreak of the Civil War, he enlisted in the Union Army on August 16, 1861, serving as lieutenant colonel
of the Eighteenth Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He was promoted to colonel
of the regiment
on July 15, 1862.
Washburn was brevet
ted as a brigadier general
of volunteers on December 15, 1864, and then as a major general on July 26, 1865. He mustered out August 26, 1865.
Following the war, Washburn resumed his law practice and returned to politics. He successfully contested as a Republican
the election of Daniel W. Voorhees
to the Thirty-ninth Congress
. He was reelected to the Fortieth Congress
and served from February 23, 1866, to March 3, 1869. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1868 to the Forty-first
Congress.
He was appointed surveyor general of Montana
in 1869 and served until his death. In 1870 he headed the Washburn-Langford-Doane Expedition
to explore what would become Yellowstone National Park
.
Mount Washburn
, located within the park, is named for him.
Washburn returned to Clinton, Indiana
, where he died on January 26, 1871. He was interred in Riverside Cemetery.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
and a general in the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
Biography
Born in Windsor, VermontWindsor, Vermont
Windsor is a town in Windsor County, Vermont, United States. The population was 3,756 at the 2000 census.-History:One of the New Hampshire grants, Windsor was chartered as a town on July 6, 1761 by Colonial Governor Benning Wentworth. It was first settled in August 1764 by Captain Steele Smith and...
, Washburn attended the common schools. He became a tanner and a currier, and taught school for several years. He moved to Vermillion County, Indiana
Vermillion County, Indiana
Vermillion County lies in western Indiana between the Illinois border and the Wabash River. It was officially established in 1824 and was the 50th Indiana county to be formed. It is included in the Terre Haute, Indiana, Metropolitan Statistical Area. The county seat is Newport.According to the 2010...
, in 1850. He graduated from the New York State and National Law School
State and National Law School
State and National Law School was an early practical training law school founded in 1849 by John W. Fowler in Ballston Spa, New York located in Saratoga County. It was also known as New York State and National Law School, Ballston Law School, and Fowler's State and National Law School. In 1853 the...
and was admitted to the bar
Admission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
in 1853. He commenced the practice of law in Newport, Indiana
Newport, Indiana
Newport is a town in Vermillion Township, Vermillion County, Indiana, United States. The population was 515 at the 2010 census. The town is the county seat of Vermillion County.-Geography:Newport is located at ....
. Entering politics, he served as the county auditor from 1854-1861.
With the outbreak of the Civil War, he enlisted in the Union Army on August 16, 1861, serving as lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
of the Eighteenth Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He was promoted to colonel
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
of the regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
on July 15, 1862.
Washburn was brevet
Brevet (military)
In many of the world's military establishments, brevet referred to a warrant authorizing a commissioned officer to hold a higher rank temporarily, but usually without receiving the pay of that higher rank except when actually serving in that role. An officer so promoted may be referred to as being...
ted as a brigadier general
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
of volunteers on December 15, 1864, and then as a major general on July 26, 1865. He mustered out August 26, 1865.
Following the war, Washburn resumed his law practice and returned to politics. He successfully contested as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
the election of Daniel W. Voorhees
Daniel W. Voorhees
Daniel Wolsey Voorhees was a lawyer and United States Senator from Indiana, who was leader of the Democratic party and an anti-war Copperhead during the American Civil War.-Biography:...
to the Thirty-ninth Congress
39th United States Congress
The Thirty-ninth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1865 to March 4, 1867, during the first month of...
. He was reelected to the Fortieth Congress
40th United States Congress
The Fortieth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1867 to March 4, 1869, during the third and fourth...
and served from February 23, 1866, to March 3, 1869. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1868 to the Forty-first
41st United States Congress
-House of Representatives:- Senate :* President : Schuyler Colfax* President pro tempore: Henry B. Anthony - House of Representatives :* Speaker: James G. Blaine -Members:This list is arranged by chamber, then by state...
Congress.
He was appointed surveyor general of Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
in 1869 and served until his death. In 1870 he headed the Washburn-Langford-Doane Expedition
Washburn-Langford-Doane Expedition
The Washburn Expedition of 1870, explored the region of northwestern Wyoming that a couple years later became Yellowstone National Park. Led by Henry Washburn, Nathaniel P. Langford and under U.S. Army escort led by Lt. Gustavus C...
to explore what would become Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park, established by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant on March 1, 1872, is a national park located primarily in the U.S. state of Wyoming, although it also extends into Montana and Idaho...
.
Mount Washburn
Mount Washburn
Mount Washburn el. is a prominent mountain peak in the Washburn Range in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. The peak was named in 1870 to honor Henry D. Washburn, leader of the Washburn–Langford–Doane Expedition...
, located within the park, is named for him.
Washburn returned to Clinton, Indiana
Clinton, Indiana
Clinton is a city in Vermillion County, Indiana, United States. The population was 4,893 at the 2010 census. The city was established in 1829 and is named after DeWitt Clinton, who served as governor of New York from 1817 to 1823. Many of Clinton's original settlers were immigrants working in coal...
, where he died on January 26, 1871. He was interred in Riverside Cemetery.