Lewis Cass was born in Exeter, New Hampshire on October 9, 1782. A lawyer, Cass served as a colonel during the War of 1812 and later served as the territorial governor of Michigan from 1813-1831. After serving as Andrew Jackson's Secretary of War from 1831-1836, he became the U.S. Ambassador to France, serving from 1836-1842. After two failed presidential runs, he represented Michigan in the U.S. Senate from 1849-1857 and served as Secretary of State for James Buchanan from 1857-1860. He died in Detroit, Michigan on June 17, 1866.