Samuel Gwin

Samuel Gwin (November 24, 1793–July 24, 1838) was a 19th-century United States government clerk. He was sometimes called as Col. Gwin. In 1936, American historian Richard Stenberg described him as one of Andrew Jackson's "parasites and favorites." According to A New History of Mississippi, Gwin and his brother William McKendree Gwin moved to the state from Tennessee and "held a variety of posts and operated the Regency, a new governing cabal, out of Vicksburg. Acting as Jackson's agents, they controlled federal patronage, ignored Mississippi's elected representatives, printed and distributed tracts, and manipulated state politics to build up the Democratic Party in Mississippi as a support for Jackson's men and policies. The Regency replaced the Junto as the central power in Mississippi politics during the Jacksonian period. Old Pons fought it and emerged as a leading figure in the new Whig Party." Gwin ultimately died from wounds received in a duel resulting from the political conflict over the land-speculation scheme based out of the government land office at Chocchuma, Mississippi.

Early life and War of 1812 Gwin was born November 24, 1793. He was a son of Mary McAdams,

He later wrote to a U.S. Senator that he was "in Coffee's brigade in the assault and capture of Pensacola in 1814, and in all the engagements with the British below New Orleans." During the same period he served as "secretary to the General." He was said to be "a cripple" but could ride a horse. He was married to Nancy Cook on October 28, 1821. Gwin wrote to Poindexter that while he remained devoted to his post office duties, he had health problems stemming from his military service and his wife was developing tuberculosis so a warmer climate would benefit their health. Gwin's appointment was rejected by the Senate, but Roger Taney suggested that Jackson that he could make a recess appointment, according to Taney's reading of the U.S. Constitution. Ultimately Gwin was appointed to a newly established land office at Chocchuma, Mississippi. A memorandum in support of Gwin was sent to Washington by "Powhattan Ellis, Gen. Thomas Hinds, and Robert J. Walker, signed by every Democratic member of the [Mississippi] legislature and by one thousand of the most influential citizens." Another testimonial was provided by George R. Yerger, J. S. Yerger, and Fulton Anderson, "who had known him from boyhood in Tennessee." Around the time of his appointment, Gwin apparently provided an affidavit that favored Jackson's recollection of the administrative circumstances under which Jackson launched his 1818 invasion of Florida. Gwin's wife Nancy died in October 1832.

Even though Jackson used their father, Rev. Gwin, as the channel by which the Old Roman announced Martin Van Buren as his preferred presidential successor, when time came for the 1836 presidential election, Samuel and William M. Gwin ("an old crony of Jackson's") were among those southern Democrats who struggled with the anointment of northerner Martin Van Buren as Jackson's successor and questioned Van Buren's fealty to the organizing principle of slavery.

Duel, death, and legacy Ultimately Samuel Gwin dueled George Poindexter's law partner Isaac Caldwell over sales of land ceded by the Chickasaw and Choctaw in northwestern Mississippi, and they both died from it, one sooner, and one later. The fatal duel took place in Clinton, Mississippi on January 12, 1836. There were reportedly 400 people assembled to witness the duel.

According to one description of the duel, "The parties fought, each armed with four pistols, taking their positions thirty paces apart, with the right of advancing. Mr. Gwin advanced, receiving the fire from four of his antagonist's pistols, one ball taking effect in his breast. The wound is considered by his physicians mortal. When Mr. Gwin discharged his pistol Mr. Caldwell fell, and soon expired." A local physician reported, "[Gwin's] wound is very dangerous, passing through the right lobe of the lungs. I shall not be surprised if he follows his antagonist to the grave in a few days". According to Foote, Gwin was "never after a sound and healthy man". In the telling of the 1938 American Guide to Mississippi, Caldwell dueled "to defend the honor of his friend, George Poindexter. Gwin had hissed a speech of Poindexter's at a free-drinking inaugural levee for Governor Lynch. Caldwell and Gwin were each armed with six pistols and were advancing upon each other as they fired. Caldwell died that day; Gwin lingered in agony a year." Gwin's one-year-old son died at Clinton, Mississippi in September 1836. His second wife Edith died at Clinton in November 1837.

Gwin died of a "congestive fever" of three days duration at the Exchange Hotel in New Orleans on July 24, 1838. At the time of his death he was said to be "cashier of the Union Bank" of Mississippi and a former receiver of public monies.