Paris C. Dunning | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Indiana House of Representatives | |
| In office December 4, 1833 – December 5, 1836 | |
| Indiana State Senate | |
| In office December 4, 1836 – December 5, 1840 | |
| In office January 5, 1861 – January 9, 1867 | |
| 10th Lieutenant Governor of Indiana | |
| In office December 9, 1846 – December 26, 1848 | |
| Governor | James Whitcomb |
| Preceded by | Jesse D. Bright |
| Succeeded by | James H. Lane |
| 9th Governor of Indiana | |
| In office December 26, 1848 – December 5, 1849 | |
| Lieutenant | Vacant |
| Preceded by | James Whitcomb |
| Succeeded by | Joseph A. Wright |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Paris Chipman Dunning March 15, 1806 Greensboro, North Carolina, US |
| Died | May 9, 1884 (aged 78) Bloomington, Indiana, US |
| Political party | Democrat Independent |
| Spouse(s) | Sarah Alexander Mrs. Allen Ashford |
Paris Chipman Dunning (March 15, 1806 – May 9, 1884) was a Democratic state representative, state senator, senate president (pro tempore), the tenth lieutenant governor, and the ninth governor of the U.S. state of Indiana from December 26, 1848, to December 5, 1849. He is the only person to hold to every elected seat in the state government under the 1816 constitution. His brief term as governor was marked by the calling of a state constitutional convention and overshadowed by the national anti-slavery debate, where Dunning urged state leaders to issue and forward resolutions to Congress expressing opposition to the expansion of slavery. As a delegate to the subsequent convention, he successfully advocated legislative and educational reform. As the American Civil War broke out, he left the Democratic party and declared for the Union, personally raising many companies of soldiers for the war effort. He returned to the state senate during the war, and then resumed his law practice after his term ended. He remained popular in the state, and declined several nominations to run for office after retiring from politics.