Men of the Time, eleventh edition/Bigelow, John
BIGELOW, John, born at Malden, New York, Nov. 25, 1817, graduated at Union College in 1835. He was admitted to the bar in 1839, and practised at New York for about ten years. In 1840 he was connected with the Plebian, and in 1843–45 was a frequent contributor to the Democratic Review. He was State Prison Inspector from 1845 to 1848, and originated some important reforms in the discipline of the prisons of New York. In 1850 he became a partner with William C. Bryant, in the ownership and editing of the New York Evening Post, and was the managing editor until 1861. He visited Jamaica, and on his return published "Jamaica in 1850." In 1854 he sailed again for the West Indies. In 1861 he was appointed American Consul at Paris; in Dec., 1864, he became Chargé d'Affaires; and in April, 1865, he was appointed Minister to the Court of France. He resigned in December, 1866, and after spending some time in travel in Europe, returned to the United States in 1868; but in the following year he again returned to Europe, making Berlin his residence for several years. Besides several political essays, he has published a "Life of John C. Fremont." 1856; "Les États-Unis en 1863," Paris, 1863; an edition of the "Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin from materials collected in France," 1868; "Some Recollections of Antoine Pierre Berryer," 1869; "France and Hereditary Monarchy," 1871; "The Wit and Wisdom of the Haytians," 1877; and "Molinos, the Quietist," 1882. He had for some years up to 1872 belonged to the Republican party, but in that year he joined with the "Liberals" in opposing the re-election of President Grant; subsequently became affiliated with the Democratic party, and in 1875 was elected Secretary of State of New York. Since 1877 he has taken no active part in public life, but has contributed some papers to the periodicals. He resides at New York, with a summer residence at Highland Falls, New York.