Stephen Arnold Douglas Jr.
Born: April 23, 1813
Birthplace: Brandon, Vermont
Father: Dr. Stephen Arnold Douglas Sr. 1782 – 1813
(Buried: Congregational Church Cemetery, Brandon, Vermont)
Mother: Sarah "Sally" Fisk 1789 – 1869
(Buried: Pioneers Cemetery, Manchester, New York)
Stepfather: Gahazi Granger 1775 – 1869
(Buried: Pioneers Cemetery, Manchester, New York)
1st Wife: Martha Denny Martin 1824 – 1853
(Buried: Settle Cemetery, Rockingham County, North Carolina)
2nd Wife: Rose Adele Cutts 1835 – 1899
(Buried: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia)
Children:
Judge Robert Martin Douglas 1849 – 1917
(Buried: Green Hill Cemetery Greensboro North Carolina)
Stephen Arnold Douglas III 1850 – 1908
(Buried: Mount Hope Cemetery Chicago Illinois)
Ellen Douglas 1852 – 1860
(Buried: Mount Olivet Cemetery Washington D.C.)
Mary Lucie Douglas 1853 – 1853
(Buried: Congressional Cemetery Washington D.C.)
Political Party: Democratic Party
Education:
Taught the Cabinetmaker trade in in Brandon Vermont
Attended Canandaigua Academy
Occupation before War:
Lived on a farm near Clifton Springs New York
1833: Moved to Cleveland Ohio
Finally, he decided to settle in Winchester Illinois
School Teacher in Winchester Illinois
1834: Attorney in Jacksonville Illinois
Illinois State Attorney for Morgan County Illinois Circuit
1836 – 1837: Illinois State Representative
1837: Register of the Land Office at Springfield Illinois
1838: Unsuccessful Candidate for United States Congress.
1840 – 1841: Illinois State Secretary of State
1843 – 1847: United States Congressman from Illinois
1843 – 1845: Ranking Member of House Judiciary Committee
1843 – 1845: Member of House Elections Committee
1846 – 1847: Chairman of House Territories Committee
1847 – 1861: United States Senator from Illinois
One of the Leaders of the Young America Movement
1847 – 1859: Chairman of Senate Territories Committee
1849 – 1861: Member of Senate Foreign Relations Committee
1849 – 1851: Member of Senate Finance Committee
1850: Worked for Compromise based on the Compromise of 1850.
1852: Unsuccessful Candidate for Democratic Presidential Nomination
1854: Author of the Kansas – Nebraska Act.
Leader of the Popular Sovereignty on the Slave and Free State Issue.
1856: Unsuccessful Candidate for Democratic Presidential Nomination
1857 – 1859: Member of Senate Public Buildings and Grounds Committee
1858: Leader in the Lincoln – Douglas Debates
1859 – 1861: Member of Senate Territories Committee
1860: Unsuccessful Democratic Presidential Candidate
1860 – 1861: Worked to prevent a breakup of the United States.
1860: Wrote Alexander Stephens that annexation of Mexico as slave state could avert secession.
Civil War Career:
Member of Committee of thirteen Senators who wanted Compromise
Supporter of the Crittenden Compromise.
1861: Unsuccessfully Sought President Lincoln's Support for a Peace Conference.
1861: Voted against the Morrill Tariff.
1861: Douglas Praised Lincoln's first inaugural Address as President.
Died: June 3, 1861
Place of Death: Chicago, Illinois
Cause of Death: Typhoid Fever
Age at time of Death: 48 years old
Burial Place: Stephen A. Douglas Tomb, Chicago, Illinois
Quotes by Stephen A. Douglas:
"Slavery is not the only question which comes up in the controversy. There is a Far more important One to you, and that is, what shall be done with the Free Negro?"
"Every man must be for the United States or against it. There can be no neutrals in this war; only patriots and traitors."
"If there is any one principle Dearer and more sacred than all Others in Free Governments. It is That which asserts the exclusive right of a free people to Form and Adopt Their own fundamental Law, And to manage and regulate their own internal Affairs and Domestic Institutions."
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