The strong Civil War Secretary Edwin McMasters Stanton and his first wife, Mary Lamson Stanton, had Edwin Lamson Stanton (1842–1877). Despite being overshadowed by his father, his tragic life and early death have historical significance. Edwin Lamson’s biography and relationship to Civil War leaders are examined in this article.
Early Life and Family Background
Edwin McMasters Stanton and Mary Lamson had Edwin Lamson Stanton in 1842. His father, a lawyer and politician, is well recognized for serving as Lincoln’s Civil War Secretary of War. When Edwin Lamson was two years old, his mother, Mary, died, shattering the family. After her death, his father and stepmother, Ellen Hutchinson Stanton, with whom Edwin McMasters Stanton had other children, reared Edwin Lamson.
Edwin Lamson’s early years were marked by personal loss and the challenges of living in the shadow of his father, who organized the Union’s military efforts and oversaw the search for John Wilkes Booth after President Lincoln’s assassination.
Edwin Lamson’s Father: Edwin Stanton
Edwin Stanton (1814–1869) was a renowned American lawyer and politician who served as Secretary of War under President Abraham Lincoln. Stanton was known as “Mars” after the Roman god of war for his tough direction of the Union’s troops. From Steubenville, Ohio, he studied law and became a recognized attorney before entering politics. Stanton streamlined the Union Army, winning important battles and managing war supplies as Secretary of War. Even after Lincoln’s assassination, he worked hard under Andrew Johnson throughout Reconstruction. Edwin Stanton’s Civil War impact continues today.
Edwin Stanton’s son, Edwin Lamson, was born amid this turbulent time in American history. Lamson definitely felt the emotional and personal toll of his father’s job, especially considering the Stanton family’s wartime circumstances. The deaths of Edwin Stanton’s first wife, Mary, in 1844 and his young son, James, during the war were devastating. Stanton continued his work despite these personal losses. Stanton’s surviving children, notably Edwin Lamson, had to balance family pain and national duty under his tremendous public service.
The Tragic Early Death of Edwin Lamson
Edwin Lamson Stanton died tragically. Just eight years after his father’s death, he died aged 35 on August 29, 1877. Edwin Lamson was married to Matilda Wilkins Carr and had two children when he died in Washington, D.C. Given the Stanton family’s turbulent past, his premature death certainly affected them greatly.
Edwin Lamson died of unknown causes, but illness is suspected. Given the historical backdrop, stress and the emotional toll of losing a father early may have contributed to his premature death. His death was a sad episode in a family reeling from Civil War and after losses.
A Snapshot of Edwin McMasters Stanton’s Family Life
His father, Edwin McMasters Stanton, had four children: Eleanor Adams, James, Lewis, and Bessie. The eldest, Edwin Lamson, was terribly short yet vital to his father.
Managing the U.S. War Department during crucial years in American history, Edwin McMasters Stanton lived a fascinating life. His bright mind and passionate loyalty to the Union helped shape the Union’s military strategy during the Civil War. The elder Stanton also lost his first wife, Mary, and his infant son James in 1862, during the war.
Edwin McMasters Stanton focused on the fight despite these personal issues. Stanton pursued John Wilkes Booth, who fled the Lincoln assassination, after he fled. Stanton’s leadership and tenacity led to Booth’s capture and death.
Edwin Lamson’s Legacy and Historical Significance
While Edwin Lamson Stanton’s achievements are less well-known than his father’s, he remains a notable figure in Stanton family history. He is most known for his relationship with Civil War hero Edwin McMasters Stanton.
Edwin Lamson’s life also highlights Civil War veterans’ personal sacrifices. His brief life of family sorrow and death illustrates the challenges of many American families in this era.
Edwin Lamson died before seeing his father’s legacy emerge, yet his death and his father’s continuous work and impact serve as historical markers of a family vitally involved in the United States’ fate during a crucial moment.
Conclusion
Despite his brief life, Edwin Lamson Stanton was an important part of the Stanton family and the American Civil War. Edwin Lamson’s early demise gives a human touch to his father’s history as a major 19th-century figure. His father, Edwin McMasters Stanton, is most known, but his life and difficulties reveal the emotional and familial struggles of the time.
