Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography/Pugh, George Ellis

PUGH, George Ellis, senator, b. in Cincinnati, Ohio, 28 Nov., 1822; d. there, 19 July, 1876. After his graduation at Miami university in 1840 he practised law until the beginning of the Mexican war, in which he took part as captain of the 4th Ohio regiment, and also as aide to Gen. Joseph Lane. In 1848-'49 he served in the legislature, and he was city solicitor of Cincinnati in 1850, and attorney-general of Ohio in 1851. He was elected to the U.S. senate as a Democrat, serving from 3 Dec., 1855 till 3 March, 1861, and was a member of the committees on public lands, and the judiciary. He was a delegate to the National Democratic convention in Charleston, S.C., in 1860, and made a speech in reply to William L. Yancey. One of his ablest efforts was his appeal in behalf of Clement L. Vallandigham (q.v.) in 1863, in the habeas corpus proceeding involving the question as to the power and duty of the judge to relieve Mr. Vallandigham from military confinement. He was defeated as the Democratic candidate for lieutenant-governor in 1863, and for congress in 1864. In 1873 he was elected to the State constitutional convention, but declined to serve.