David Tod

David Tod
25th Governor of Ohio
In office
January 13, 1862 – January 11, 1864
LieutenantBenjamin Stanton
Preceded byWilliam Dennison
Succeeded byJohn Brough
United States Minister to Brazil
In office
August 28, 1847 – August 9, 1851
PresidentJames K. Polk
Zachary Taylor
Millard Fillmore
Preceded byHenry A. Wise
Succeeded byRobert C. Schenck
Personal details
Born(1805-02-21)February 21, 1805
Youngstown, Ohio, U.S.
DiedNovember 13, 1868(1868-11-13) (aged 63)
Youngstown, Ohio, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic (before 1861)
Republican (1861–1864)
National Union (1864–1868)
Signature

David Tod (February 21, 1805 – November 13, 1868) was an American politician and industrialist from the U.S. state of Ohio. As the 25th governor of Ohio, Tod gained recognition for his forceful and energetic leadership during the American Civil War.[1]

A Democrat who supported the war effort, Tod helped to maintain a fragile alliance between the state's Republicans and War Democrats and took steps to secure Ohio's borders. In 1863, the state's pro-Union party failed to nominate Tod for a second term because of his tepid support for the abolition of slavery and his unpopularity among the state's myriad political factions.[2]

After completing his two-year term as Ohio governor, Tod turned down an invitation to serve in the government of President Abraham Lincoln as Secretary of the Treasury, citing poor health. Tod died of a stroke in 1868, three years after the end of the war and was interred in Oak Hill Cemetery (Youngstown, Ohio).[3]

A biography of David Tod by Joseph Lambert Jr. was published in 2023. The Political Transformation of David Tod is the title.

  1. ^ Trester, Delmer J. "David Tod". Ohio Historical Society. Archived from the original on February 5, 2008. Retrieved April 12, 2008.
  2. ^ Knepper (1989), p. 244.
  3. ^ "MVHS to Host 'History to Go' at Oak Hill Cemetery". Business Journal Daily | The Youngstown Publishing Company. October 12, 2016. Retrieved October 22, 2020.