John Bigelow

Born in 1817, he built an unusually varied career as a lawyer, writer, newspaper editor, public official, and diplomat. He studied in New York, practiced law, and became known through journalism and public service before rising to national prominence.

As an editor of the New York Evening Post, he took strong positions on major issues of his day, including opposition to slavery. During the American Civil War, he served as U.S. minister to France and later briefly as ambassador, where he played an important role in helping prevent French recognition of the Confederacy.

He remained active in public life for decades after the war. Along with his diplomatic work and writing, he became associated with early support for an interoceanic canal through Panama, and he also edited and preserved important writings by Benjamin Franklin. He died in 1911 after a long life that connected reform politics, journalism, and international affairs.