Banks, Nathaniel Prentiss

Banks, Nathaniel Prentiss

(1816–1894) U.S. representative, soldier; born in Waltham, Mass. Largely self-educated, he became a lawyer (1839) but turned to publishing. He then served in the Massachusetts legislature (1849–53) before going to the House of Representatives (Dem., 1853–55; Know-Nothing, 1855–57); he was Speaker of the House (1856–57). Turning Republican, he became governor of Massachusetts (1858–60). Shortly after succeeding George McClellan as head of the Illinois Central Railroad (1860–61), he was commissioned a major general with the Union army. He led Federal forces in several unsuccessful actions against Stonewall Jackson, but succeeded in capturing Port Hudson, La., (1863); however, after the disastrous Red River Campaign of 1864, he resigned from the army. He returned to the U.S. House of Representatives (Rep., 1865–73; Dem., 1875–77; Rep., 1877–79; Rep., 1889–91).

The Cambridge Dictionary of American Biography, by John S. Bowman. Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1995. Reproduced with permission.