Biography

Democrat elected to the Massachusetts state senate and was reelected in 1846, 1850 and 1857. Was the U.S. Attorney from 1853 to 1857 under President Pierce. Sent by President Buchanan in Dec. 1860 to Charleston, S.C. to delay passing the ordinance of secession. In 1871 he served as counsel for the United States at the Geneva Tribunal of Arbitration and was the minister to Spain from 1873 to 1877 under President Grant.