American lawyer, soldier and politician, born at Winchester, VA; died in Washington, DC, on the 9th of August 1892. In 1831 the family removed to Ohio, and in 1841 he went to Missouri, where he studied law and was admitted to the bar. As captain of the Twelfth Infantry, he served throughout the Mexican War, and in 1850 settled in California, where he was chosen a state senator two years later. His term in the senate was signalized by a duel with ex-Congressman E. Gilbert, fought with Winchester rifles, in which Gilbert was shot dead. Denver became secretary of state for California in 1853, and also Congressman, and under President Buchanan (in 1857) was Commissioner of Indian Affairs. The same year he became governor of Kansas, but resigned in 1858, while holding the governorship, which included the present state of Colorado in its jurisdiction. He was instrumental in founding the city of Denver, named in his honor. In the Civil War he was made brigadier-general, and served until 1863 in the Western states.
