Oliver P. Morton | |
|---|---|
 Morton, c. 1870–1880 | |
| United States Senator from Indiana | |
| In office March 4, 1867 – November 1, 1877 | |
| Preceded by | Henry S. Lane |
| Succeeded by | Daniel W. Voorhees |
| 14th Governor of Indiana | |
| In office January 16, 1861 – January 24, 1867 | |
| Lieutenant | John R. Cravens (acting) Conrad Baker |
| Preceded by | Henry S. Lane |
| Succeeded by | Conrad Baker |
| 14th Lieutenant Governor of Indiana | |
| In office January 14, 1861 – January 16, 1861 | |
| Governor | Henry S. Lane |
| Preceded by | Abram A. Hammond |
| Succeeded by | John R. Cravens (acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Oliver Hazard Perry Throck Morton August 4, 1823 Wayne County, Indiana, U.S. |
| Died | November 1, 1877 (aged 54) Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican (from 1856) |
| Other political affiliations | Democratic (before 1854) Indiana People's Party (1854–1860) |
| Spouse | Lucinda Burbank Morton |
| Alma mater | Miami University Cincinnati College |
| Signature |  |
Oliver Hazard Perry Throck Morton (August 4, 1823 – November 1, 1877), commonly known as Oliver P. Morton, was a U.S. Republican Party politician from Indiana. He served as the 14th governor of Indiana during the American Civil War, and was a stalwart ally of President Abraham Lincoln. Morton worked hard to maximize Indiana's contribution to the war effort and marginalize the obstructionists. He was a principled and effective leader who fought for equality and nationalism through the use of governmental power. His forceful pursuit of civil rights and prosecution of Copperheads and white supremacists gained him lasting enemies among the antiwar elements. Morton thwarted and neutralized the Democratic-controlled Indiana General Assembly. He exceeded his constitutional authority by calling out the militia without approval, and during the period of legislative suppression he privately financed the state government through unapproved federal and private loans. He was criticized for arresting and detaining political enemies and suspected southern sympathizers. As one of President Lincoln's "war governors", Morton made significant contributions to the war effort, more than any other man in the state, and earned the lifelong gratitude of former Union soldiers for his support.
During his second term as governor, and after being partially paralyzed by a stroke, he was elected to serve in the U.S. Senate. He was a leader among the Radical Republicans of the Reconstruction era, and supported numerous bills designed to reform the former Southern Confederacy. In 1877, during his second term in the Senate, Morton suffered a second debilitating stroke that caused a rapid deterioration in his health; he died later that year. Morton was mourned nationally and his funeral procession was witnessed by thousands. He is buried in Indianapolis's Crown Hill Cemetery.