Cass, Lewis

Lewis (1782-1866), an American statesman. He was born at Exeter, New Hampshire. He entered the practice of law in Zanesville, Ohio. He became a brigadier-general in the War of 1812, and was at the battle of the Thames. In 1831 he was appointed governor of Michigan territory, then extending to the headwaters of the Mississippi River. In this position he showed no little ability in handling the Indian questions of the Northwest. Subsequently he published a volume entitled Inquiries Concerning the Indians. A magnificent body of water in northern Minnesota is known as Cass Lake. General Cass was appointed secretary of war under Jackson, and in 1836 was sent as minister plenipotentiary to Paris. Later he became senator from Michigan and was secretary of state in Buchanan's cabinet. In 1848 he ran for the presidency, but was defeated by General Taylor. An echo of the campaign may still be heard in the Biglow Papers.