Today’s #stampoftheday is a 7-cent stamp issued in 1871 that depicts Edwin Stanton (and his extensive beard which is partially obscured by the postmark on the stamp in my dad’s collection).

Stanton was a well-known lawyer from Pennsylvania who argued several notable cases before the U.S. Supreme Court. Recognized as a rising star in Washington in the years just before and just after the start of the Civil War, President Lincoln tapped him to be Secretary of War in late 1861 to replace someone whose incompetent stewardship reportedly had led many to call the War Department “the insane asylum.” (The more things change, the more they stay the same, eh?)

Stanton oversaw the effort to organize the massive military resources of the North and guide the Union to victory. However, he was criticized by many Union generals for perceived over-cautiousness and micromanagement. After Lincoln’s assassination, Stanton remained as the Secretary of War under the new U.S. President Andrew Johnson. But he opposed to Johnson’s lenient policies towards the former Confederate States. Johnson’s attempted to dismiss Stanton, a move which ultimately led to Johnson being impeached by the Radical Republicans in the House of Representatives. The Senate, however, voted not to convict him. (The more things change…)

Stanton resigned after Johnson was acquitted and returned to practicing law. In 1869 he was nominated as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court by President Ulysses S. Grant, who took office that year. However, Stanton died four days after his nomination was confirmed by the Senate in December 1869.

The stamp itself is notable not only because it was the only stamp issued in 1871 but also because, with the exception of Benjamin Franklin, only those who had served as president had been honored on United States stamps prior to stamps issued in 1870 and 1871. Stanton was among the first to be so honored. Others honored in the series included Senator Henry Clay (the Great Compromiser), Senator Daniel Webster, General Winfield Scott, Alexander Hamilton, and Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, who led American forces in key battles on Lake Erie during the War of 1812. (Perry is best known for flying a battle flag which read, “Don’t Give Up the Ship” and also for a message he sent after the battle to General William Henry Harrison stating his message to General William Henry Harrison which read in part, “We have met the enemy and they are ours;…” – a phrase transformed and immortalized on an Earth Day poster and later a Pogo cartoon stating, “we have met the enemy and he is us.”