History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century/4/Robert Lucas
ROBERT LUCAS, first Governor of Iowa Territory, was born at Shepherdstown, Jefferson County, Virginia, on the 1st of April, 1781. His father was an officer in the Revolutionary War who, in 1800, liberated his slaves and removed to Scioto County, Ohio. Robert received his education under a private teacher and became a surveyor. When the War of 1812 began he was appointed captain in the regular army and as the war progressed attained the rank of colonel. He served nineteen years in the Ohio Legislature and during that period was presiding officer of both House and Senate. In 1832 he was president of the Democratic National Convention which nominated Andrew Jackson for President. In the same year he was elected Governor of Ohio and in 1834 was reëlected, serving four years. On the 7th of July, 1838, he was appointed by President Van Buren Governor of the new Territory of Iowa. As his services in that position have been mentioned quite fully elsewhere it is sufficient here to say that he gave to Iowa an able, intelligent and faithful administration. At its close he retired to his farm near Iowa City in June, 1841. Governor Lucas was chosen a member of the First Constitutional Convention which met in 1844 and was one of its ablest and most useful delegates. He died at his home February 7, 1853.