Joseph Lane

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Joseph Lane

Born	1801
Died	1881

Joseph Lane (1801 – 1881) was an American general during the Mexican-American War and a U.S. Senator from Oregon.

Lane was born in Buncombe County, North Carolina on December 14, 1801. He moved to Kentucky at a young age, and then moved to Indiana, where he was engaged in farming for a while. While in Indiana, he served in the State House of Representatives and the State Senate.

At the outbreak of hostilities with Mexico, Lane was appointed colonel of the 2nd Indiana Volunteer Regiment and served along the border. The same year he was appointed brigadier general of volunteers and commanded the Indiana Brigade at the Battle of Buena Vista. After the battle he was appointed major general of volunteers and led the relief force which lifted the Siege of Puebla defeating Antonio López de Santa Anna at the Battle of Huamantla along the way.

He was appointed by President James Polk as governor of Oregon Territory from 1848-1850, and as superintendent of Indian affairs there. He was the vice presidential nominee of the southern wing of the Democratic Party in 1860. He also served in the United States Senate, representing Oregon from 1859 to 1861.

Lane retired to Roseburg, Oregon. His home there is now a museum maintained by the Douglas County Historical Society. [1] Known as the Creed Floed House, the Floed-Lane House, or simply the Joseph Lane House, it is on the National Register of Historic Places. [2]

[edit] External link

General Joseph Lane at First Hand History, includes primary documents.

Preceded by George Abernethy*	Territorial Governor of Oregon 1848 – 1850	Succeeded by Kintzing Prichette
Preceded by Samuel Thurston	Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives from Oregon Territory's At-large congressional district March 4, 1851–February 14, 1859	Succeeded by Position dissolved (Oregon statehood)
Preceded by John P. Gaines	Territorial Governor of Oregon 1853	Succeeded by George Law Curry
Preceded by Position created (Oregon statehood)	United States Senator (Class 3) from Oregon 1859-1861 Served alongside: Delazon Smith, Edward D. Baker	Succeeded by James W. Nesmith
Preceded by John C. Breckinridge	Democratic Party vice presidential candidate** 1860 (lost)	Succeeded by George Hunt Pendleton
* George Abernethy served as head of the Oregon Territory's provisional government before official territorial status was granted by Congress in 1848.
** The Democratic party split in 1860, producing two vice presidential candidates. Lane was nominated by Southern Democrats; Herschel Vespasian Johnson was nominated by Northern Democrats.