Edward Dickinson

The Signature of Edward Dickinson, pictured in a book that was given to Emily Dickinson, 1859

1803:
On New Years Day of 1803, Edward Dickinson was born in Amherst, Massachusetts to parents Samuel Fowler Dickinson and Lucretia Gunn.
Edward was a Capricorn, the tenth astrological sign. The Capricorn is an Earth sign, represented by the sea goat and is ruled by Saturn.
education:
Edward Dickinson attended public grade schools in Amherst before attending Amherst academy, which was founded by his father. He later graduated from Yale in 1823 and studied at the Northhampton Law School for a year until he opened his own practice in 1826.
Pictured: Yale College: 1800's
Dickinson Reputation:
During the time Edward was establishing his career, his father had overcommitted himself to the financial backing of Amherst college and their entire family lost all of their wealth and landholdings as a result. Fearing the consequencial shame of staying in Amherst now that the Dickinson family name had been thrashed, family members both immediate and extended fled Amherst; Edward stayed however and attempted to salvage his fathers wrongdoings and retain what was left of the Dickinson family name.
Love Life
Edward Dickinson met Emily Norcross Dickinson in 1826 while Edward was on a business trip. Following their meet-cute, the two struck up a lengthy correspondence which lasted two years and consisted of 93 letters; 69 from Edward and 24 from Emily. Edward proposed to Emily later that year, and Emily reluctantly accepted the proposal. The couple married in 1828, and had three children together; Austin, Emily and Lavinia.
1874: Edward Dickonson passes away
On June 16, 1874, following a speech Edward gave at a conference for the State Legislature of Massachusetts in Boston, Edward died in a Boston boardinghouse- away from his family. This news devistated the entire town of Amherst, and the entire town was consequently shut down on the day of his funeral. In a speech at Edward's funeral, Emily, his eldest daughter, said “Lay this Laurel on the one\ Too intrinsic for Renown -\ Laurel – vail your deathless Tree -\ Him you chasten – that is he -” (Fr1428).

Career:

Amherst College Treasurer:
In 1835, two years after the birth of his youngest child, Lavinia Dickinson, Edward Dickinson became the treasurer of Amherst College, his family's legacy. He served as the treasurer until 1863, when his only son, Austin Dickinson took over.
Edward Dickinson signed Amherst College Bill: 1869
political positions:
From 1838 to 1839, Edward Dickinson served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives and later held a seat in the Massachusetts Senate from 1842 to 1843. His political career continued as he joined the Massachusetts Governor's Council in 1846-1847. Subsequently, Edward was elected to the United States Congress as a member of the Whig Party, which was known for its conservative stance during the mid-19th century. After serving two terms as a Whig, he unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for Lieutenant Governor in 1861. Following this, he made a return to the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1871.
Angeline Palmer:
In 1841, when Emily was only 11 years old, Edward took on the case of Angeline Palmer, a black slave girl of the Shaw family; a well respected family in Amherst whom members of the Shaw family conspired to sell into slavery in Georgia for $600. Three free black men of Amherst with the help of one white man tried to save Angeline, whom was only 10 at the time from this abduction but were all arrested on account of kidnapping and assault. During the trial, the white man was not charged with the crime. However, the three black men were charged with the crimes, and all served three months in the Amherst county jail, but were deemed 'heroes' in the eyes of the Amherst community.

Edward Dickinson

1803:

education:

Dickinson Reputation:

Love Life

1874: Edward Dickonson passes away

Career:

Amherst College Treasurer:

political positions:

Angeline Palmer:

The Dickinson Diaries