Edwin D. Morgan

Edwin D. Morgan
United States Senator from New York
In office March 4, 1863 – March 3, 1869
Preceded by	Preston King
Succeeded by	Reuben E. Fenton
23rd Governor of New York
In office January 1, 1859 – December 31, 1862
Lieutenant	Robert Campbell
Preceded by	John Alsop King
Succeeded by	Horatio Seymour
1st and 5th Chairman of the Republican National Committee
In office 1872–1876
Preceded by	William Claflin
Succeeded by	Zachariah Chandler
In office 1856–1864
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Henry J. Raymond
Member of the New York Senate from the 6th district
In office January 1, 1850 – December 31, 1853
Preceded by	William Samuel Johnson
Succeeded by	Erastus Brooks
Personal details
Born	Edwin Denison Morgan (1811-02-08)February 8, 1811 Washington, Massachusetts, U.S.
Died	February 14, 1883(1883-02-14) (aged 72) New York City, New York, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Other political affiliations	Whig
Signature
Military service
Allegiance	United States Union
Branch/service	United States Army Union Army
Years of service	1861–1863
Rank	Major General
Commands	Department of New York
Battles/wars	American Civil War

Edwin Denison Morgan (February 8, 1811 – February 14, 1883) was the twenty-third governor of New York from 1859 to 1862 and served in the United States Senate from 1863 to 1869. He was the first and longest-serving chairman of the Republican National Committee. He was also a Union Army general during the American Civil War. Morgan was known for his progressive views on education, prison reform, and women's suffrage. He helped to found the Republican Party in New York and was a strong supporter of the Presidency of Abraham Lincoln.

In 1836 he moved to New York City, becoming a successful wholesale grocer and bond broker. He served as an assistant alderman and member of the New York State Senate. Originally a Whig, he was one of the founders of the Republican Party, and he served as chairman of the Republican National Committee from 1856 to 1864 and 1872 to 1876.

In 1858, Morgan was elected Governor of New York, and he served from 1859 to 1862. As governor during the American Civil War, Morgan supported the Union. Appointed a major general of volunteers in the Union Army, he commanded the military's Department of New York while serving as governor. In 1863, he was elected to the United States Senate, where he served one term. He was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1869, and the unsuccessful Republican nominee for governor in 1876. Morgan had been a patron of Chester A. Arthur at the start of Arthur's career; when Arthur became president, he nominated Morgan as United States Secretary of the Treasury. Morgan was confirmed by the Senate, but declined on the grounds of age and ill health. Morgan died in New York City in 1883, and was buried in Connecticut.