Return J. Meigs Jr. was the fourth governor of Ohio and an influential politician during the early years of Ohio politics.
He was affiliated with the Democratic-Republican party, which was the dominant political party in Ohio and the United States at the time.
After his governorship, he would become the fifth United States Postmaster General and a United States Senator.
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Early Years
Return J. Meigs Jr. was born in Connecticut Colony to the son of Return J Meigs Sr., who was a colonel in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. The Meigs family could trace their ancestry back to the Puritans who settled in Massachusetts Bay Colony in the 17th century.
Return Meigs attended Yale College, where he received a law degree. After graduating, he moved to Marietta, Ohio, where his father had settled as one of the first settlers of the city.
Career
Marietta was a nice opportunity for Return Meigs to make a name for himself. The town was in its infancy and was situated on the Ohio River, which would aid in its growth.
He would become a lawyer, storekeeper, and farmer and serve in many other public offices during his time there. By 1788, he was appointed as the first court clerk for the court, and in 1794, he became Marietta's first postmaster.
His successes continued in 1798 when he was named to a judgeship on the Northwest Territory's territorial court and the next year won election to the territorial legislature.
In 1803, he was appointed the first Chief Justice of the Ohio State Supreme Court. In October 1804, he resigned from this position to become commandant of U. S. troops in the St. Charles District of the Louisiana Territory.
He attained the rank of Brevet Colonel and retained the command until 1806. In 1805, he was chosen as judge of the Supreme Court of Louisiana and then, in 1807, Judge of the United States District Court for the Michigan Territory.
He returned to Ohio in 1807 to run for governor. He won the election but was declared ineligible for failing to meet the residency requirements.
He then was appointed to the U.S. Senate to finish the term of John Smith and was re-elected to his own term a year later.
He resigned in late 1810 after winning the governorship.
He would serve as Ohio's governor during a tumultuous time that occurred during the War of 1812. He provided a steady hand during the war, especially after the fall of Detroit, which left the Ohio frontier and cities such as Toledo, Sandusky, and Cleveland vulnerable.
President James Madison offered Meigs a position as United States Postmaster General. This would be the first time during his career that he did not see much success.
His term as Postmaster was mired in controversy, and coupling that with a growing America that resulted in the post office doubling in size seemed to overwhelm him. Despite his difficulties, he served in 1823 when he retired and returned to his home in Marietta.
He would not live much longer after that. Return J. Meigs Jr. died on March 29, 1825.
