Norman Eddy
Encyclopedia
Norman Eddy was an American politician and military officer.
Trained as a doctor at the University of Pennsylvania
, Eddy moved to Mishawaka, Indiana
after graduation in 1835. There, he practiced medicine until 1847, when he changed his focus to law, passing the bar and moving to South Bend, Indiana
. His efforts shifted again three years later, when he commenced a political career in the Democratic Party
with a post in the Indiana State Senate. After holding that position and several other local offices, he was elected to the 33rd Congress
, defeating Schuyler Colfax
. Eddy served only one term in this office, as he was in turn defeated by Colfax when he attempted to run for re-election. Undaunted, Eddy continued his political career as Attorney General of the Territory of Minnesota, serving as an appointee of President Franklin Pierce
in 1855.
The outbreak of the American Civil War
marked a new phase of Eddy's life, as he organized the 48th Indiana Infantry
and received a commission as its colonel
. Eddy served in this capacity for two years, but received disabling wounds in Mississippi at the Battle of Iuka
and left the service in July 1863. Despite the wounds, he was fortunate, as 119 of his 420 men were killed or wounded in the engagement.
After the close of his military career, Eddy was Indiana's collector of internal revenue from 1865 to 1870, and then its Secretary of State of Indiana
from 1870 to 1872, before dying suddenly as a result of a heart condition
on January 28 of that year. An Episcopalian
, Eddy was buried in City Cemetery.
Trained as a doctor at the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
, Eddy moved to Mishawaka, Indiana
Mishawaka, Indiana
Mishawaka is a city on the St. Joseph River and a Twin city of South Bend in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States. The population was 48,252 as of the 2010 Census...
after graduation in 1835. There, he practiced medicine until 1847, when he changed his focus to law, passing the bar and moving to South Bend, Indiana
South Bend, Indiana
The city of South Bend is the county seat of St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States, on the St. Joseph River near its southernmost bend, from which it derives its name. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total of 101,168 residents; its Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 316,663...
. His efforts shifted again three years later, when he commenced a political career in the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
with a post in the Indiana State Senate. After holding that position and several other local offices, he was elected to the 33rd Congress
33rd United States Congress
The Thirty-third United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1853 to March 3, 1855, during the first two years...
, defeating Schuyler Colfax
Schuyler Colfax
Schuyler Colfax, Jr. was a United States Representative from Indiana , Speaker of the House of Representatives , and the 17th Vice President of the United States . To date, he is one of only two Americans to have served as both House speaker and vice president.President Ulysses S...
. Eddy served only one term in this office, as he was in turn defeated by Colfax when he attempted to run for re-election. Undaunted, Eddy continued his political career as Attorney General of the Territory of Minnesota, serving as an appointee of President Franklin Pierce
Franklin Pierce
Franklin Pierce was the 14th President of the United States and is the only President from New Hampshire. Pierce was a Democrat and a "doughface" who served in the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate. Pierce took part in the Mexican-American War and became a brigadier general in the Army...
in 1855.
The outbreak of the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
marked a new phase of Eddy's life, as he organized the 48th Indiana Infantry
48th Regiment Indiana Infantry
The 48th Regiment Indiana Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 48th Indiana Infantry was organized at Goshen, Indiana December 5, 1861 through January 28, 1862 and mustered in for a three year enlistment under the command of...
and received a commission as its colonel
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
. Eddy served in this capacity for two years, but received disabling wounds in Mississippi at the Battle of Iuka
Battle of Iuka
The Battle of Iuka was fought on September 19, 1862, in Iuka, Mississippi, during the American Civil War. In the opening battle of the Iuka-Corinth Campaign, Union Maj. Gen. William S. Rosecrans stopped the advance of the army of Confederate Maj. Gen. Sterling Price.Maj. Gen. Ulysses S...
and left the service in July 1863. Despite the wounds, he was fortunate, as 119 of his 420 men were killed or wounded in the engagement.
After the close of his military career, Eddy was Indiana's collector of internal revenue from 1865 to 1870, and then its Secretary of State of Indiana
Secretary of State of Indiana
The Secretary of State of the U.S. state of Indiana is one of five constitutional officers originally designated in Indiana's State Constitution of 1816. Since 1851 it has been an elected position. The Secretary of State has authority of several state departments, and is considered to be the...
from 1870 to 1872, before dying suddenly as a result of a heart condition
Heart disease
Heart disease, cardiac disease or cardiopathy is an umbrella term for a variety of diseases affecting the heart. , it is the leading cause of death in the United States, England, Canada and Wales, accounting for 25.4% of the total deaths in the United States.-Types:-Coronary heart disease:Coronary...
on January 28 of that year. An Episcopalian
Episcopal Church (United States)
The Episcopal Church is a mainline Anglican Christian church found mainly in the United States , but also in Honduras, Taiwan, Colombia, Ecuador, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, the British Virgin Islands and parts of Europe...
, Eddy was buried in City Cemetery.