Caleb Lyon

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Caleb Lyon

Caleb Dell Lyon (born December 7, 1822 in Greig , Lewis County , New York , †  September 8, 1875 in Rossville , Staten Island , New York) was an American politician and governor of the Idaho Territory from 1864 to 1865 . From 1853 to 1855 he represented New York State as a member of the US Congress .

Early years

Caleb Lyon attended the public schools in Lyondale and in Canadian Montreal . He then studied until 1841 at Norwich University in Northfield ( Vermont ). Lyon loved traveling abroad, where he got to know foreign cultures and customs. In the United States, he then gave lectures on the impressions he had gathered on these trips. He was also active as a writer.

Political career

In 1847 he was offered the post of American consul in Shanghai , which he refused. Instead, he moved to California , where he attended that state's constituent assembly. In 1850 he returned to New York, where he was a member of the State Senate . But he resigned this mandate in protest against the expansion of the Erie Canal . Between March 4, 1853 and March 3, 1855 he represented New York State in the US House of Representatives as a politically independent party .

In 1864, Lyon was named Territory Governor of Idaho by President Abraham Lincoln . He held this office until April 10, 1866. There he managed to conclude a land cession treaty with the Indians. During his tenure as governor, the capital of the territory was moved from Lewiston to Boise . This measure was highly controversial among the population. Otherwise he wasn't very popular in Idaho either. He was accused of misappropriating public funds. His Secretary of State, Horace C. Gilson, stole the treasury and left the country. As a result, the treasury was empty. All of this damaged Lyon's reputation.

After his time in Idaho, Caleb Lyon returned to his Lyonsmere estate in Staten Island. He died there in 1875.

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personal data
SURNAME Lyon, Caleb
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Lyon, Caleb Dell (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American politician
DATE OF BIRTH December 7, 1822
PLACE OF BIRTH Greig , New York
DATE OF DEATH September 8, 1875
Place of death Rossville , New York