Napoleon Bonaparte Giddings
Encyclopedia
Napoleon Bonaparte Giddings (1816–1897) was a United States Senator from the Nebraska Territory
. In addition to his political career, Giddings was a captain in the U.S. Army, a political appointee in the Republic of Texas
, an editor of a small town newspaper in Missouri
, a 49er in the California Gold Rush
and a lawyer
in Nebraska. After his political career he served as a colonel in the Union Army
during the United States Civil War.
to George and Frances Tandy (Bush) Giddings on January 2, 1816. Giddings moved with his parents to Fayette, Missouri
in 1828. He enlisted in the army during the Texas War of Independence and became sergeant major of his regiment. When Texas gained independence he was appointed chief clerk in the auditor’s office of the Republic of Texas
.
After serving as acting auditor until his resignation in 1838, Giddings returned to Fayette and studied law. He was admitted to the Missouri Bar in 1841 and commenced practice in Fayette. There he was married to Armide Boone, daughter of Rev. Hampton Lynch and Maria Louisa (Roberts) Boone, and a great niece of frontiersman Daniel Boone on November 15, 1842.
In the U.S.-Mexican War Giddings was commissioned as captain of Company A, Second Regiment, Missouri Mounted Volunteers, and served until March 1847. He edited the Union Flag newspaper in Franklin County, Missouri
afterwards, and eventually went to California to engage in gold mining
. At some point after that he returned to Missouri, settled in Savannah and practiced law.
In the early 1850s Giddings moved to Nebraska City and continued the practice of law. When the Territory of Nebraska was formed in 1854 he was elected as a Democrat
to the Thirty-third United States Congress and served from January 5 to March 3, 1855. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1854.
Giddings resumed his law practice in Savannah shortly thereafter, and was commissioned a lieutenant colonel of the Fifty-first Regiment, Missouri Volunteer Infantry during the United States Civil War. He served from April 11, 1865, to August 31, 1865, when he was honorably discharged. Giddings died in Savannah on August 3, 1897 and was interred in the City Cemetery there.
Nebraska Territory
The Territory of Nebraska was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from May 30, 1854, until March 1, 1867, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Nebraska. The Nebraska Territory was created by the Kansas–Nebraska Act of 1854...
. In addition to his political career, Giddings was a captain in the U.S. Army, a political appointee in the Republic of Texas
Republic of Texas
The Republic of Texas was an independent nation in North America, bordering the United States and Mexico, that existed from 1836 to 1846.Formed as a break-away republic from Mexico by the Texas Revolution, the state claimed borders that encompassed an area that included all of the present U.S...
, an editor of a small town newspaper in Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, a 49er in the California Gold Rush
California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The first to hear confirmed information of the gold rush were the people in Oregon, the Sandwich Islands , and Latin America, who were the first to start flocking to...
and a lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
in Nebraska. After his political career he served as a colonel 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 United States Civil War.
Biography
Napoleon Bonaparte Giddings was born near Boonesborough, KentuckyBoonesborough, Kentucky
Boonesborough is an unincorporated community in Madison County, Kentucky, United States. It lies in the central part of the state along the Kentucky River. Boonesborough is part of the Richmond–Berea Micropolitan Statistical Area....
to George and Frances Tandy (Bush) Giddings on January 2, 1816. Giddings moved with his parents to Fayette, Missouri
Fayette, Missouri
Fayette is a city in Howard County, Missouri, United States. The population was 2,793 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Howard County. It is in the Columbia, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
in 1828. He enlisted in the army during the Texas War of Independence and became sergeant major of his regiment. When Texas gained independence he was appointed chief clerk in the auditor’s office of the Republic of Texas
Republic of Texas
The Republic of Texas was an independent nation in North America, bordering the United States and Mexico, that existed from 1836 to 1846.Formed as a break-away republic from Mexico by the Texas Revolution, the state claimed borders that encompassed an area that included all of the present U.S...
.
After serving as acting auditor until his resignation in 1838, Giddings returned to Fayette and studied law. He was admitted to the Missouri Bar in 1841 and commenced practice in Fayette. There he was married to Armide Boone, daughter of Rev. Hampton Lynch and Maria Louisa (Roberts) Boone, and a great niece of frontiersman Daniel Boone on November 15, 1842.
In the U.S.-Mexican War Giddings was commissioned as captain of Company A, Second Regiment, Missouri Mounted Volunteers, and served until March 1847. He edited the Union Flag newspaper in Franklin County, Missouri
Franklin County, Missouri
Franklin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri on the south side of the Missouri River. Franklin County is part of the St. Louis Metro Area and contains many of the St. Louis exurbs. Census 2010 put the population at 101,492; making it the 10th most populous county in Missouri....
afterwards, and eventually went to California to engage in gold mining
Gold mining
Gold mining is the removal of gold from the ground. There are several techniques and processes by which gold may be extracted from the earth.-History:...
. At some point after that he returned to Missouri, settled in Savannah and practiced law.
In the early 1850s Giddings moved to Nebraska City and continued the practice of law. When the Territory of Nebraska was formed in 1854 he was elected as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
to the Thirty-third United States Congress and served from January 5 to March 3, 1855. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1854.
Giddings resumed his law practice in Savannah shortly thereafter, and was commissioned a lieutenant colonel of the Fifty-first Regiment, Missouri Volunteer Infantry during the United States Civil War. He served from April 11, 1865, to August 31, 1865, when he was honorably discharged. Giddings died in Savannah on August 3, 1897 and was interred in the City Cemetery there.