Robert Cumming Schenck   [1809-1890]

Robert Schenck was not only an active politician, as a United States Congressman, representing a district in the state of Ohio for many years, but he also served in the Union Army during the Civil War, initially as a brigadier general and later as a major general.

Robert Schenck was born on October 4, 1809 in Franklin, Ohio. His father, an early settler and land speculator, was William Cortenius Schenck [1773-1821]. His mother was Elizabeth Rogers [1776-1853]. Schenck’s father, William, was descended from a prominent Dutch family, and was originally from Monmouth County, New Jersey.

Robert Schenck was fortunate to be able to obtain a good education. He went to Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and graduated with a B. A. degree in 1827. Following his graduation, he taught school for a few years, and continued to do graduate work at Miami University. In 1830, he completed his graduate studies and received a M. A. degree. He then decided to study law by interning with a law firm. In 1831, he completed his law studies, and was able to pass the Ohio bar exam. Schenck then moved to Dayton, Ohio, where he set up a law practice in partnership with Joseph Halsey Crane. The law firm of the two partners was known as Crane and Schenck.

In 1838, Schenck ran for a seat in the Ohio State Legislature. He was unsuccessful, but he   tried again in 1840, and was successful for the 1841-1842 term. In 1842, Schenck ran for the United States Congress from his district under the Whig ticket, and won the election. He was reelected in 1844, 1846, and 1848, and served in Congress for eight years. His major contribution was to help repeal the gag rule that had been used to prevent antislavery petitions being read on the floor of the House. He also opposed the Mexican-American War, because he saw it as a war of aggression to further slavery.

In 1851, Schenck was appointed by President Millard Fillmore to become Minister, essentially ambassador, to Brazil. At that time the appointment also covered the territories of Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay. He was able to negotiate treaties, advantageous to the United States, with some of the territories under his jurisdiction.

In 1854, Schenck returned to his law practice in Dayton. He was quite successful, and during this time period, he also became president of the Fort Wayne Western Railroad Company. Politically, he became more interested in the aims of the Republican Party, and in September 1859, Schenck made a speech in Dayton recommending that the Republican Party nominate Abraham Lincoln for the presidency.

When the Civil War broke out in 1861, President Lincoln appointed Schenck to the rank of brigadier general of Volunteers. Schenck’s initial skirmish in the Civil War involved a reconnaissance by train which ran into a near disaster. His next war encounter was at Bull Run on July 21, 1861. He later took part in the Shenandoah Valley Campaign of 1862, in the battle of Cross Keys, and was, for a time, commander of the First Army Corps. Schenck also participated in the Second Bull Run battle, and became severely wounded, injuring his right arm permanently. Following the battle he was promoted to major general, in August 1862. For some time thereafter, he was involved in maintaining order in the State of Maryland. He resigned his military commission in December 1863, and took his seat in the United States Congress, a seat to which he had been elected as a Republican in 1861, while he was active during the war.

As an experienced United States Congressman, Schenck was back in his element. He had always been more of a politician than a military man. Schenck was reelected to the next four United States Congresses, but failed to be reelected in 1871. Following his congressional career, Schenck was appointed by General Ulysses S. Grant as United States Ambassador to Great Britain. He remained in that position until 1876, when he resigned. He returned to Dayton and resumed his law practice.

Robert Schenck was married to Renelsche W. Smith [1811-1849] at Missequoque, Long Island, New York. The couple had six children, but only three survived. The other three died in infancy. Renelsche passed away at the young age of 38. She died from tuberculosis in 1849 in Dayton, Ohio. Robert Schenck passed away on March 23, 1890, at age 81. Robert’s eldest brother, James Findlay Schenck, was a rear admiral in the United States Navy.

 

REFERENCES

Robert Cumming Schenck, http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/entry.php?rec=332

Robert C. Schenck, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_C._Schenck

 

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