Curran Emmet

-born in let's say 1824

-mother dies in childbirth

-son of famous Irish-American lawyer Thomas Addis Emmet

-a refugee from War of the French Revolution (1792-1804) > Great Irish Rebellion (1796-9)

-his uncle is no less than the famous Robert Emmet

-as a result from this regards himself as an Irish-American proudly, and remains till his death an Irish-American community leader

-goes into law from that in father's path

-successfully passes bar with golden colors

-inherits father's strong opposition to slavery which causes him to represent black applicants pro bono

-with the Missouri crisis under American Presidents > 1829-1837 Henry Clay (Republican, then National Republican) and the Fugitive Slave Act, in its wake he famously defends a slave escapee

-this is what really puts him on the page as a young lawyer even though escapee ultimately is resubmitted back to slavery

-thanks to racist southern-tinted all-white jury

-he then helps the slave escape to New England

-many are horrified at this, even if only at slaveowner influence among white people

-on basis of record as antislavery lawyer is able to become leading member of Union Party

-which is antislavery-tinted in era of Daniel Webster

-and then is able to win election despite tough fight in New York seat to state senate

-shows he's able to gain pretty sizeable Protestant support based on his Protestantism

-and his United Irish bonafides appeals to a lot of Protestants

-excellent organizer for his party

-even if not super-charismatic, can give some pretty strong speeches

-makes himself well-known as prominent legislator in this regard

-from Manhattan

-every battle is hectic and puts him opposite to the Tammany machine

-but he's popular enough and able to win enough Protestants that he is able to win in non-wave years

-in office becomes progressively more popular in era of antislavery backlash to proslavery laws

-but loses in 1857 due to American Presidents > 1853-1861 Robert F. Stockton (People's) coattails and because it's an unpopular stance (at this point, anyways) but that aside he's able to win

-and become leading Unionist, especially in terms of being New York City Unionist

-supports Dorr during the split of the Union Party

-and vigorously stumps for him

-and becomes founding member of the Justice Party on that basis

-wins on the basis of Upstate New York votes

-and also as move to get support from New York City legislators

-who might have otherwise voted for local candidate

-with outbreak of Liberty and Union War (1868-76) he is leading member of Extraordinary Congress in Philadelphia

-reacts in shock at the New York riots

-postwar he marches into the city in an effort to settle conditions

-to calm its state by being there as a fairly popular personality

-and to ensure Colored population of city remains settled there

-partially successful, though many do move to Brooklyn as a result of it

-leading member of the war effort and of very radical reconstruction efforts

-because he's an effective party manager and all

-leading member in providing funds towards the rebuilding of New York

-selected as VP on basis of pretty strong legislative record

-and as part of the radical establishment of sorts

-and to balance governor who's also part of campaign

-in this role he does play a fairly minimal role

-but has impressive soft legislative power and serves as quasi-legislator

-and is important link between Wentworth government and Congress

-does support inflation bill, which does break his links with New York anti-inflation ranks to an extent

-and they have a lot of power within establishment

-with death of American Presidents > 1877-1879 John Wentworth (Justice) † becomes president

-sees a pretty massive corruption scandal emerge in his cabinet with his powerful Secretary of the Treasury

-over war profiteering vis a vis Antillean War (1880-4) which is only partially supported by evidence but is sufficiently scandalous

-he swiftly cleans it up but causes civil war of sorts in his party

-and means he drops plans for second elective term in favor of compromise candidate

-previously attempted to run for Senator

-but got denied for this post by party establishment pissed at him

-this intensifies movement for Washington Convention because people feel he would have been elected senator

-does run for congressman though against establishment a little while later

-and based on popular anger at popular politician being denied he succeeds

-also because he does have a fair amount of establishment support

-since he was former president after all

-in this role he is a mixture of combative and conciliatory

-wins support of a fairly sizeable number of Unofficial candidates and serves as sort of semi-detached quasi-opposition within party

-but without breaking links with officials

-also he's an effective politician in his role and through it he's able to increase in stature

-supports plan of Washington Convention

-after having tried amendments still then

-the Constitution of the United States (1885) authorizes ex-presidents to serve for life

-he is the last living ex-president at this time

-with provision made with him in mind

-and to prevent ex-presidents being dirtied by politicking

-he serves as well-respected but not fully successful senator

-but represents reform tendency within party

-and does not break with party altogether, instead being very independent-minded Official Justicialist

-gradually retires from this role over time

-because he grows old

-still comes for big votes but otherwise he's just a senator on paper

-buried in New York in grand funeral

-ultimately, in his honor is created State of Anacostia > Emmett Monument in distinctly Irish style