Gideon Welles

He married Mary Jane Hale Welles on June 16, 1835. They had eight children whose names were Edgar Thaddeus Welles, Thomas Glastonbury Welles, John Arthur Welles, Herbert Welles, Samuel Welles, Edward Gideon Welles, Anna Jane Welles and Mary Juanita Welles.

He was suffering for his poor health conditions since 1877. He passed away at the age of seventy-five on account of suffering from a streptococcal infection of throat. He was laid to rest at Cedar Hill Cemetery, Connecticut.

His book “Diary of Gideon Welles” was published posthumously in 1911. This three volume diary provides detail description of the President’s War Cabinet from 1861 to 1869.

Born in Glastonbury, Connecticut, United States, Gideon Welles was the son of Samuel Welles, a shipping merchant and Ann Hale. His father was a follower of Thomas Jefferson.

Gideon attended the Episcopal Academy in Cheshire, Connecticut. Later, he studied at the American Literary, Scientific and Military Academy in Norwich, Vermont. After that, he studied law in Hartford University under William W. Ellsworth.

Instead of practicing law, he switched his preference to journalism and in 1826, he started publishing “Hartford Times” for which he served as an editor. As an ardent follower of Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson, his editorials in this paper used to reflect his political views.

In 1827, after winning a seat to the Connecticut General Assembly, he became its youngest member. During his tenure in the Assembly, he worked hard for introducing various reformatory measurements.

In order to rectify the rules of becoming an eye witness in court, he endeavoured to pass a bill. Moreover, he took the initiative to change the necessary qualifications for holding a political office.

After facing severe criticism for his reformations, he left the Assembly in 1835. In the following year, President Andrew Jackson appointed him as the postmaster of Hartford. He served for this position till 1841.

In 1845, President James K. Polk nominated him as the Chief of the Bureau of Provisions and Clothing in the Navy Department. This position brought him the rare opportunity to gain practical knowledge about Navy.

During his tenure as the Secretary of the Navy during the presidency of Abraham Lincoln, this influential politician experienced difference of opinion with Lincoln for several reasons. Still, they shared a close relationship.