David L. Gregg | |
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United States Commissioner to the Kingdom of Hawaii | |
In office December 20, 1853 – May 21, 1858 | |
President | Franklin Pierce |
Preceded by | Luther Severance |
Succeeded by | James W. Borden |
11th Illinois Secretary of State | |
In office 1850–1853 | |
Governor | Augustus C. French |
Preceded by | Horace S. Cooley |
Succeeded by | Alexander Starne |
Minister of Finance | |
In office May 26, 1858 – August 18, 1862 | |
Preceded by | Robert C. Wyllie |
Succeeded by | Robert C. Wyllie |
Personal details | |
Born | July 21, 1819 Pennsylvania, U.S. |
Died | December 23, 1868 Carson City, Nevada, U.S. | (aged 49)
Political party | Democratic |
Spouses | Eliza Byrne, Rebecca Eads |
Profession | Attorney, publisher |
David Lawrence Gregg (July 21, 1819 – December 23, 1868) was an American politician from New York State. He rose to prominence in Illinois politics, first in the Illinois House of Representatives, then as United States Attorney, and Illinois Secretary of State. In 1853, Franklin Pierce appointed Gregg the Commissioner to the Kingdom of Hawaii to negotiate its annexation at the request of its king, Kamehameha III. In response, he cited the U.S. Constitution as not allowing annexation of a foreign state. (Texas had, in fact, been annexed a few years before with dubious legality.) His later years were spent in Carson City, Nevada.