John Appleton

John Appleton
4th United States Assistant Secretary of State
In office April 4, 1857 – June 10, 1860
Preceded by	John Addison Thomas
Succeeded by	William Henry Trescot
Personal details
Born	(1815-02-11)February 11, 1815 Beverly, Massachusetts, U.S.
Died	August 22, 1864(1864-08-22) (aged 49) Portland, Maine, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Susan Appleton
Profession	Politician, Lawyer

John Appleton (February 11, 1815 – August 22, 1864) was born in Beverly, Massachusetts, and raised in Cumberland County, Maine, USA. He graduated from Bowdoin College in 1834, also studied at Cambridge Law School, and was admitted to the Cumberland County bar in 1837, commencing practice in Portland, Maine.

He also did editorial work on the Eastern Argus and became editor in 1838. He later became a register of probate for Cumberland County in 1840 and again from 1842 to 1844. His wife, Susan Appleton, gave birth to their son, Eben Dodge Appleton, on September 8, 1843. Appleton became Chief Clerk of the United States Navy Department in 1845 serving to 1848. He was then transferred to the United States State Department under the same position, serving from January to April 1848. He then served as United States Minister to Bolivia from 1848 to 1849. In 1850 he was elected to the 32nd United States Congress serving from 1851 to 1853, not running for re-election in 1852. In 1855 he served as Secretary of the Legation in London, England, from February 19 to November 16. He resumed practicing law until he was appointed Assistant Secretary of State in 1857 serving to 1860 when he resigned to serve as United States Ambassador to Russia, keeping this post until 1861. He then retired and later died on August 22, 1864, in Portland, Maine. He is interred at Evergreen Cemetery in Portland.

Namesake

Both he and William Appleton were born in Massachusetts and had served in the 32nd United States Congress. They were second cousins once removed: John being the great, great-grandson, and William being the great-grandson of Isaac Appleton and Elizabeth Sawyer.

References

Further reading

• Appleton, John, North for Union: John Appleton’s Journal of a Tour to New England Made by President Polk in June and July 1847, Edited by Wayne Cutler, Nashville, TN Vanderbilt University Press, 1986.

External links

• John Appleton at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• John Appleton at Find A Grave
•  "Appleton, John". Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography. 1900