John Bigelow (1817-1911)

He was admitted to the bar of New York in 1839 and in 1850 joined William Cullen Bryant as editor of the New York Evening Post. He continued as one of the principal editors until 1861, when he was appointed U.S. Consul at Paris, and on the death of Mr. Dayton he became U.S. Minister to France, remaining so until 1866. While in Paris, he published “Les États Unis d’Amerique.” This work corrected the erroneous views of the French as to the relative commercial importance of the Northern and Southern States and was effective in discouraging the supposed desire of the French Government to disrupt the Union. He also conducted the negotiations leading to the withdrawal of the French army from Mexico. In 1875, he was elected Secretary of State of New York. He has published “The Life of Samuel J. Tilden,” of whom he was one of the three executors; “The Mystery of Sleep” and numerous other works. He was honored with degrees from various universities, and lived at his home in Gramercy Park (see images).