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Edgar Cowan
Edgar Cowan (September 19, 1815 – August 31, 1885) was an American lawyer and Republican politician from Greensburg, Pennsylvania. He represented Pennsylvania in the United States Senate during the American Civil War.
A native of Sewickley Township, Pennsylvania, Cowan worked as a carpenter, boatman, and teacher before graduating from Franklin College in New Athens, Ohio, in 1839. He studied law with Henry Donnel Foster, was admitted to the bar, and practiced in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Cowan also became active in politics as a Whig, and campaigned for the party's presidential candidates beginning with William Henry Harrison in 1840. With the demise of the Whigs, Cowan became a Republican in 1855, and supported John C. Frémont for president in the 1856 election.
In 1860, Cowan was a delegate pledged to Simon Cameron at the Republican National Convention, and backed Cameron until Cameron gave his support to Abraham Lincoln. In early 1861, Cowan was the Cameron-backed candidate for a U.S. Senate seat, and won the election held by the Pennsylvania legislature. He served one term, 1861 to 1867, and was chairman of the Committee on Patents and the Patent Office for most of his Senate career. Cowan became a supporter of Andrew Johnson's plan for post-Civil War Reconstruction, which cost him the support of Cameron's Republican organization in Pennsylvania. Cowan was defeated for reelection to the Senate, and Radical Republicans who opposed Johnson then blocked Cowan's appointment as U.S. Minister to Austria.
After leaving the Senate, Cowan was a supporter of Democratic candidates including Horace Greeley, the Democratic and Liberal Republican nominee for president in 1872 and Democrats Samuel J. Tilden in 1876 and Winfield Scott Hancock in 1880.
Cowan became ill with mouth and throat cancer in 1884. He died in Greensburg on August 31, 1885, and was buried at St. Clair Cemetery in Greensburg.
Cowan was born in Sewickley Township, Pennsylvania, on September 19, 1815. He was educated in Westmoreland County, taught school and worked as a carpenter, draftsman, and cargo boat builder and operator before deciding to continue his education. After attending the academy in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, Cowan returned to teaching school briefly before enrolling at Franklin College in New Athens, Ohio. He received his degree in 1839, and delivered the valedictory address for his graduating class.
After his college graduation, Cowan studied law with Henry Donnel Foster, was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in 1842. Though raised as a Jacksonian Democrat, Cowan became active in politics as a Whig, and was a campaign speaker and organizer for Whig presidential candidates beginning with William Henry Harrison in the 1840 election. He became a Republican when the party was founded, and was an organizer and speaker for John C. Frémont in the 1856 election. Cowan was a supporter of Simon Cameron, and as a delegate to the 1860 Republican National Convention, he supported Cameron for the presidential nomination until Cameron gave his support to Abraham Lincoln on the second ballot. Cowan was one of Pennsylvania's presidential electors, and cast his ballot for Lincoln for president and Hannibal Hamlin for vice president.
In January 1861, the Pennsylvania legislature considered the election of a U.S. Senator for the term scheduled to start on March 4. With Republicans in control, it was clear that Democratic incumbent William Bigler would not be reelected, which made winning the nomination of the legislature's Republican caucus the real contest. The caucus considered several candidates before nominating Cowan on the sixth ballot with 58 votes to 38 for David Wilmot, and two for another candidate. In the election by the full legislature, Cowan defeated his former law teacher Henry Donnel Foster by a party-line vote of 98 to 38.
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Edgar Cowan
Edgar Cowan (September 19, 1815 – August 31, 1885) was an American lawyer and Republican politician from Greensburg, Pennsylvania. He represented Pennsylvania in the United States Senate during the American Civil War.
A native of Sewickley Township, Pennsylvania, Cowan worked as a carpenter, boatman, and teacher before graduating from Franklin College in New Athens, Ohio, in 1839. He studied law with Henry Donnel Foster, was admitted to the bar, and practiced in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Cowan also became active in politics as a Whig, and campaigned for the party's presidential candidates beginning with William Henry Harrison in 1840. With the demise of the Whigs, Cowan became a Republican in 1855, and supported John C. Frémont for president in the 1856 election.
In 1860, Cowan was a delegate pledged to Simon Cameron at the Republican National Convention, and backed Cameron until Cameron gave his support to Abraham Lincoln. In early 1861, Cowan was the Cameron-backed candidate for a U.S. Senate seat, and won the election held by the Pennsylvania legislature. He served one term, 1861 to 1867, and was chairman of the Committee on Patents and the Patent Office for most of his Senate career. Cowan became a supporter of Andrew Johnson's plan for post-Civil War Reconstruction, which cost him the support of Cameron's Republican organization in Pennsylvania. Cowan was defeated for reelection to the Senate, and Radical Republicans who opposed Johnson then blocked Cowan's appointment as U.S. Minister to Austria.
After leaving the Senate, Cowan was a supporter of Democratic candidates including Horace Greeley, the Democratic and Liberal Republican nominee for president in 1872 and Democrats Samuel J. Tilden in 1876 and Winfield Scott Hancock in 1880.
Cowan became ill with mouth and throat cancer in 1884. He died in Greensburg on August 31, 1885, and was buried at St. Clair Cemetery in Greensburg.
Cowan was born in Sewickley Township, Pennsylvania, on September 19, 1815. He was educated in Westmoreland County, taught school and worked as a carpenter, draftsman, and cargo boat builder and operator before deciding to continue his education. After attending the academy in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, Cowan returned to teaching school briefly before enrolling at Franklin College in New Athens, Ohio. He received his degree in 1839, and delivered the valedictory address for his graduating class.
After his college graduation, Cowan studied law with Henry Donnel Foster, was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in 1842. Though raised as a Jacksonian Democrat, Cowan became active in politics as a Whig, and was a campaign speaker and organizer for Whig presidential candidates beginning with William Henry Harrison in the 1840 election. He became a Republican when the party was founded, and was an organizer and speaker for John C. Frémont in the 1856 election. Cowan was a supporter of Simon Cameron, and as a delegate to the 1860 Republican National Convention, he supported Cameron for the presidential nomination until Cameron gave his support to Abraham Lincoln on the second ballot. Cowan was one of Pennsylvania's presidential electors, and cast his ballot for Lincoln for president and Hannibal Hamlin for vice president.
In January 1861, the Pennsylvania legislature considered the election of a U.S. Senator for the term scheduled to start on March 4. With Republicans in control, it was clear that Democratic incumbent William Bigler would not be reelected, which made winning the nomination of the legislature's Republican caucus the real contest. The caucus considered several candidates before nominating Cowan on the sixth ballot with 58 votes to 38 for David Wilmot, and two for another candidate. In the election by the full legislature, Cowan defeated his former law teacher Henry Donnel Foster by a party-line vote of 98 to 38.