Welles, Gideon, 1802-1878

A native of Glastonbury, Conn., Gideon Welles began his career as a lawyer but took up journalism as a profession, founding the Hartford Times, which he also edited, in 1826. Active in the Democratic Party in Connecticut, he served in the Connecticut state legislature and in several state offices. He later shifted his allegiance to the Republican Party due to his strong anti-slavery views and founded the Hartford Evening Press, a zealously Republican newspaper. President Abraham Lincoln appointed him secretary of the navy in 1861. As secretary he worked to rebuild the navy after the mass resignation of southern officers just prior to the Civil War and successfully implemented the naval blockade of southern ports. Welles left his post after disagreement with the Reconstruction policies of Andrew Johnson, returning to the Democratic Party in 1868. In the remaining years of his life Welles devoted himself to writing.

From the description of Gideon Welles manuscript, circa 1878. (Louisiana State University). WorldCat record id: 179874806

Gideon Welles (1802-1878) was an American politician and journalist. He was the founder and editor of the Hartford (Connecticut) Times, and served as Secretary of the Navy from 1861-1869.

From the guide to the Gideon Welles Letter, 1863, (Special Collections Research Center, Syracuse University Libraries)

Gideon Welles was Chief of the Bureau of Provisions and Clothing in the Navy Department from 1846 to 1849.

From the description of Letter : [Washington, D.C.], to Joseph Hillman, Troy, N.Y., 1847 May 11. (University of Chicago Library). WorldCat record id: 80985677

United States Secretary of the Navy.

From the description of Letter signed : "Navy Department", Washington, D.C., to Admiral S.P. Lee, 1860 Jan. 24. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270589252

From the description of Autograph telegram signed : "Navy Department," to Edgar T. Welles, 1862 May 8. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270589030

From the description of Autograph telegram signed : Washington, to William P. Smith, [no year] Aug. 3. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270589037

Secretary of the Navy.

From the description of Letter signed : "Navy Department," to Captain Kilty, 1865 Jan. 20. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270589256

Connecticut journalist, editor, politician, and Secretary of the Navy under Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson (1861-1869).

From the description of Papers, 1835-1868 Jan.-Feb. 1861. (Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library). WorldCat record id: 59284109

Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy, 1861-1869, was born in 1802 in Connecticut and died in 1878. He was a member of the Connecticut legislature, editor of The Hartford Times, and held several positions in state government. He joined the Republican Party and served the Lincoln and Johnson administrations as Secretary of the Navy. His three volume diary is a source for information on the Civil War and Reconstruction era.

From the description of Letter, August 30, 1864. (Naval War College). WorldCat record id: 742574596

From the description of Letter, May 19, 1867. (Naval War College). WorldCat record id: 741516308

From the description of Letter, July 9, 1862. (Naval War College). WorldCat record id: 730446248

American politician; Secretary of the Navy.

From the description of Telegram signed : Washington, to D.G. Farragut, 1866 Jul. 21. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270589981

From the description of Telegram signed : "Navy Department", to Admiral S.P. Lee, 1863 Dec. 10. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270589931

From the description of Telegram signed : "Navy Department", to D.G. Farragut [sic] at Vicksburg, 1862 Jul. 18. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270589978

From the description of Telegram signed : "Navy Department", to William F. Keeler, 1863 Jan. 14. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270589966

From the description of Telegram signed : "Navy Department", to Comm. A.A. Harwood, 1863 Jan. 30. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270589962

From the description of Telegram signed : "Navy Department", to Capt. John Ericsson in New York, 1863 Jan. 27. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270589958

Gideon Welles was Secretary of the Navy during the Civil War.

From the description of Papers of Gideon Welles, 1846-1902 (bulk 1861-1870). (Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens). WorldCat record id: 122443712

A native of Glastonbury, Conn., Gideon Welles began his career as a lawyer but took up journalism as a profession, founding the Hartford Times, which he also edited, in 1826. Active in the Democratic Party in Connecticut, he served in the Connecticut state legislature and in several state offices. He later shifted his allegiance to the Republican Party due to his strong anti-slavery views and founded the Hartford Evening Press, a zealously Republican newspaper. President Abraham Lincoln appointed him secretary of the navy in 1861. As secretary he worked to rebuild the navy after the mass resignation of southern officers just before the beginning of the Civil War and successfully implemented the naval blockade of southern ports. Welles left his post after disagreement with the Reconstruction policies of Andrew Johnson, returning to the Democratic Party in 1868. In the remaining years of his life Welles devoted himself to writing.

From the description of Gideon Welles letters, 1861-1862. (Louisiana State University). WorldCat record id: 179877658

American politician, United States Secretary of the Navy.

From the description of Telegram signed : "Navy Department", to Comm. John Rodgers, 1861 Jul. 27. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270589938

U.S. secretary of the navy and newspaper editor.

From the description of Gideon Welles papers, 1777-1911 (bulk 1820-1876). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 70980258

Editor of the Hartford Times, secretary of the navy (1861-1869), and founder of the Hartford Evening Press.

From the description of Letters, 1863-ca. 1870. (Duke University Library). WorldCat record id: 41546358

American politician, Secretary of the Navy.

From the description of Telegram signed : "Navy Department", to Hiram Paulding, 1862 Mar. 10. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270589947

From the description of Telegram signed : "Navy Department," to Flag Officer, Charles H. Bell, San Francisco, 1862 May 30. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270589955

From the description of Autograph telegram signed : "Navy Department", to Commander C.R.P. Rodgers, 1864 Jul. 10. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270589041

From the description of Telegram signed : "Navy Department," to Commodore Stribling, 1863 Dec. 9. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270589951

From the description of Telegram signed : "Navy Department," to Chief Engineer A.C. Stimer, 1864 Mar. 21. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270589941

From the description of Telegram signed : "Navy Department", to William F. Keeler, 1863 Jan. 24. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270589973

From the description of Letter signed : "Navy Department", to Freeman H. Morse, 1863 Mar. 19. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270589230

From the description of Telegram signed : "Navy Department", to Commander J.C. Carter, 1863 Nov. 11. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270589944

Gideon Welles (1802-1878) was an American politician and editor. He served as Secretary of the Navy from 1861 to 1869 under Presidents Lincoln and Johnson after having political positions in Connecticut as a member of the Democratic Party. He left the party over the slavery question and became a Republican supporter. He edited and wrote political commentary for several newspapers in Connecticut.

From the guide to the Gideon Welles papers, 1825-1878, 1840-1864, (The New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division.)

Gideon Welles was born in 1802 in Connecticut, where he was editor of the Harford Times. He served in the Connecticut legislature, then as Lincoln's Secretary of the Navy, and continued in that position until 1869. He and Assistant Secretary Gustavus Fox were responsible for the successful prosecution of the naval side of the war.

From the description of Letter, November 2, 1868. (Naval War College). WorldCat record id: 729736062

From the description of Letter, June 1, 1863. (Naval War College). WorldCat record id: 17998036

From the description of Signature, [n.d.] (Naval War College). WorldCat record id: 17997972

From the description of Letter, November 8, 1864. (Naval War College). WorldCat record id: 18171833

Gideon Welles (1802-1878) was an American politician and editor.

He served as Secretary of the Navy from 1861 to 1869 under Presidents Lincoln and Johnson after having political positions in Connecticut as a member of the Democratic Party. He left the party over the slavery question and became a Republican supporter. He edited and wrote political commentary for several newspapers in Connecticut.

From the description of Gideon Welles papers, 1825-1878, bulk (1840-1864). (New York Public Library). WorldCat record id: 122616089

Biographical Note

• 1802, July 1: Born, Glastonbury, Conn.
• 1819 - 1821 : Attended Episcopal Academy, Cheshire, Conn.
• 1823 - 1825 : Attended the American Literary, Scientific, and Military Academy (Norwich University), Norwich, Vt.
• 1826 - 1836 : Editor and part owner, Hartford Times
• 1827 - 1835 : Member, Connecticut House of Representatives
• 1834: Unsuccessful Democratic Party candidate for Congress
• 1835: Married Mary Jane Hale
• 1835: Elected Connecticut state comptroller of public accounts
• 1836 - 1841 : Appointed postmaster of Hartford, Conn.
• 1842 - 1843 : Elected Connecticut state comptroller of public accounts
• 1846 - 1849 : Chief, Bureau of Provisions and Clothing, U.S. Navy
• 1850: Unsuccessful Democratic Party candidate for U.S. Senate
• 1854: Resigned from the Democratic party
• 1856: Unsuccessful Republican Party candidate for governor of Connecticut Founder, Republican Party newspaper, Hartford Evening Press
• 1856 - 1864 : Member, Republican National Committee and National Executive Committee
• 1860: Leader, Connecticut delegation, Republican National Convention, Chicago, Ill.
• 1861 - 1869 : Secretary of the navy
• 1868: Rejoined the Democratic Party
• 1869 - 1877 : Published historical articles in Galaxy
• 1872: Resigned from the Democratic Party to become a Liberal Republican
• 1874: Published Lincoln and Seward. New York: Sheldon & Co.
• 1878, Feb. 11: Died, Hartford, Conn.
• 1911: Posthumous publication, The Diary of Gideon Welles. Boston and New York: Houghton Mifflin Co. (3 vols.)

From the guide to the Gideon Welles Papers, 1777-1911, (bulk 1820-1876), (Manuscript Division Library of Congress)