Daniel
Edgar Sickles
was born in New York on 20th October
1819. Originally a printer, he later studied law and was admitted
to the bar in 1846. Elected to the State assembly in 1847, he was
appointed corporation attorney in 1853.
In
1853 Sickles became secretary to the United States
legation in London. When Sickles returned
to America he become involved in politics and joined the Democratic
Party. He was elected to the 35th Congress and took up his seat
in March 1857. Two years later Sickles shot dead the unarmed Philip
Barton Key in front of several witnesses. During his trial Sickles
claimed Key was having an affair with his wife. Sickles became the
first person in legal history to be acquitted after pleading temporary
insanity.
On the outbreak of the American Civil War
Sickles raised a brigade in New York.
Promoted to the rank of brigadier general, commanded the 2nd Division
of the III Corps at Antietam. He also
fought at Gettysburg, where he lost
his leg.
In March, 1867, Congress passed the first Reconstruction
Act. The South was now divided into five military districts, each
under a major general. New elections were to be held in each state
with freed male slaves being allowed to vote. President Andrew
Johnson appointed Sickles as military governor of the Carolinas.
Johnson was opposed to this legislation and eventually Sickles and
Philip Sheridan (Louisiana and Texas)
were sacked for doing their work too enthusiastically.
In 1869 President Ulysses S. Grant appointed
Sickles as Minister to Spain. After resigning
in 1873 he became chairman of the New York Monuments Commission but
was later forced to resign for mishandling funds.
Sickles
was appointed sheriff of New York City in 1889 and also served in
the 53rd Congress (March, 1893 to March, 1895). Daniel
Edgar Sickles died on 3rd May 1914.
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