oseph A. Wright, for seven years Governor of Indiana, was born in Washington, Pennsylvania, April 17, 1810. In 1819, his family moved to Bloomington, Indiana, where he and his two brothers assisted their father at work in a brickyard, and in the brick business generally. In 1822, his father died and he, then fourteen years of age, having but little if any aid from others, was left entirely upon his own resources. He attended school, and college about two years, and while at college was janitor, rang the bell and took care of the buildings. It is said that what little pocket money he had was made by gathering walnuts and hickory nuts in the fall and selling them to students in the winter. He subsequently studied law with Craven P. Hester, of Bloomington, and began the practice of his profession, in 1829, at Rockville, Park County, where he met with good success from the start. In 1833, he was elected to the state legislature, and in 1840, the year of the Harrison political tornado, was chosen a member of the state senate. He was also elected district attorney for two terms in 1836 and 1837, and later was appointed by President Polk Untied States Commissioner to Texas. In 1843, he was elected to congress from the Seventh district, over Edward McGaughey, by the majority, and served until Polk was inaugurated, March 4, 1845. In 1849, he was elected governor of Indiana, under the old constitution, and in 1852 was re-elected by over 20,000 majority, and served until 1857. In the summer of the latter year, he was appointed minister to Prussia, by James Buchanan, and as such served until 1861. In 1862, he was appointed by Governor Morton United States Senator, and sat in the senate until the next January. He was appointed commissioner the Hamburg exposition in 1863, and in 1865 went again to Prussia as United States Minister, and remained there until his death, which occurred at Berlin on March 11, 1867. Governor Wright will be best remembered as the governor of Indiana, his services in the general assembly, senate and congress being too brief for him to make much impression in any of those bodies.

As governor, he was an important factor in shaping legislation and molding public opinion. He was an orthodox Democrat of the straightest sect, stood high in the councils of his party and contested with Jesse D. Bright for the leadership, but without success. He was strong with the people but weak with the leaders. In personal appearance, Governor Wright was tall and raw boned. He had a large head and an unusually high forehead. His hair was light and thin, his eyes blue, and his nose and mouth large and prominent. He was an effective speaker, mainly on account of his earnestness and simplicity. While not the greatest man in the state, he was one of the most influential; and to his honor be it said, his influence was exercised for the public good. Economy and honesty in public life, and morality and religion in private station, had in him an advocate and an exemplar.