Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography/Lucas, Robert

LUCAS, Robert, statesman, b. in Sheppardstown, Va., 1 April, 1781; d. in Iowa City, Iowa, 7 Feb., 1853. His father was a descendant of William Penn, and a captain in the Revolutionary army. The son removed to Ohio in 1800, and rose to the rank of major-general of militia. He was commissioned a captain in the 19th U.S. infantry, 14 March, 1812, and lieutenant-colonel, 20 Feb., 1813, but resigned on 30 June, and served as brigadier-general of Ohio militia in defence of the frontier from 25 July till 19 Sept. of that year. He was a member of the Ohio legislature in 1814, and in 1832 presided over the Democratic national convention that nominated Andrew Jackson for a second term. Gen. Lucas was governor of Ohio in 1832-'36, and in 1838-'41 was first territorial governor of Iowa. He was an active freemason and a man of strong impulses, but of strict integrity.