Daniel S. Dickinson
A staunch New York Unionist who fiercely defended the Constitution during the Civil War, helping keep the border states from seceding.
1800–1866 (age 66)·American politician and lawyer·Birthday: September 11
Biography
Daniel S. Dickinson was a political workhorse from Binghamton, New York, whose brand of pro-Union, pro-compromise Democratic politics defined an era. A lawyer with a commanding presence, he rose to the U.S. Senate where he became a leading voice for the 'Hunker' or conservative wing of his party, opposing the expansion of slavery but prioritizing the preservation of the Union above all. When the Civil War erupted, Dickinson's value skyrocketed. As a prominent Northern Democrat who wholeheartedly supported Lincoln's war effort, he became a powerful symbol of national unity. His speeches, arguing that secession was illegal and the Constitution inviolable, were printed and distributed by the thousands to bolster morale in the border states. Though he never held high executive office, his relentless advocacy for a united America was, in Lincoln's view, instrumental in preventing the war from fracturing the North itself.
#1 When Daniel Was Born
The biggest hits of 1800
Daniel's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1800Born
1805Started school
1813Became a teenager
1816Could drive
1818Could vote
1821Turned 21
1830Turned 30
1840Turned 40
1850Turned 50
1860Turned 60
1866Died at 66
President: Andrew Johnson
Key Achievements
- Served as a U.S. Senator from New York from 1844 to 1851, becoming a leading conservative Democratic voice on national issues.
- Played a critical role as a pro-Union Democrat ('War Democrat') during the Civil War, lending bipartisan credibility to Lincoln's administration.
- His widely circulated speeches and pamphlets were used as propaganda to strengthen Union sentiment in crucial border states.
- Served as Attorney General of New York and was the Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor in 1864.
Did You Know?
He was offered the nomination for Vice President on the 1864 National Union ticket but declined; Andrew Johnson was selected instead.
A statue of Dickinson stands in the National Statuary Hall Collection in the U.S. Capitol, representing the state of New York.
He was known for his sharp legal mind and was often called upon to draft important legislation and party platforms.
“The Union is the ark of our safety; compromise is its ballast.”
