In his youth he took part in politics, was a delegate to the Republican State Convention in 1858, and a distinguished and effective speaker in the campaign of 1860. In every Presidential contest from that time to the present, his speeches have been listened to by thousands of his fellow-citizens, and his opinions have never failed to attract attention and command respect. At the beginning of the war he was adjutant of the Eighteenth Regiment N. Y. V., and served three months. In 1861 he was elected member of Assembly, and re-elected in 1862. His legislative career, which was marked with great ability, prepared the way for a still higher position, and in 1863 he was elected Secretary of State. He received, but declined, the appointment of commissioner of emigration, but served for one year as tax commissioner for the city of New York. In 1866 he received from President Johnson the appointment of minister to Japan, -- a position which he resigned after holding the commission for one month. He was appointed one of the commissioners of the new capitol at Albany in 1871. The Liberal Republican party gave Mr. Depew the nomination for Governor in 1872 ; but he,

• "Writings and Speeches of Samuel J. Tilden,"edited by John Bigelow, preface.

together with the rest of the ticket, failed of election. During the controversy which led to the resignation of Hon. Roscoe Conkling as United States Senator, Mr. Depew was one of the most prominent among the candidates pro})osed as his successor, but withdrew his name in the interests of harmony. He was appointed one of the regents of the university in' 1877, a position which he still retains. For several years he was vice-jtresident and general counsel for the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad, and is now (1886) president of the road, -- a position which furnishes ample scope for his abilities.