Edward Gilbert

{{short description|American politician (c. 1819-1852)}} {{Other people}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Infobox officeholder |name = Edward Gilbert |image = Edward Gilbert engraving Crop.jpg |caption = Engraving of Gilbert from 1855 |state = California |district = {{ushr|CA|AL|at-large}} |term_start = September 11, 1850 |term_end = March 3, 1851 |predecessor = Constituency established |successor = Joseph W. McCorkle |birth_date = c. {{birth date text|1819}} |birth_place = Cherry Valley, New York, U.S. |death_date = {{death date and age|1852|8|2|1819}} |death_place = near Sacramento, California, U.S. |party = Democratic }} '''Edward Gilbert''' ({{circa|1819}} – August 2, 1852) was an American newspaper editor and Democratic California politician. From 1850 to 1851, he served briefly as a member of the United States House of Representatives.

==Biography == Gilbert was born in Cherry Valley, New York.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=G000172|title=GILBERT, Edward - Biographical Information|website=bioguide.congress.gov|access-date=2017-05-15}}</ref>

During the Mexican–American War of 1846–48, he served in the U.S. Army.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://media.onevoter.org/reports/Legislators_of_California.pdf|title=Legislators of California|date=2011|last1=Vassar|first1=Alexander C.|accessdate=23 November 2016}}</ref> After his regiment arrived in San Francisco, California in 1847, Gilbert was discharged from service and chose to remain in California.

In 1849, Gilbert partnered with businessman Edward Kemble and printer G. O. Hubbard to found the ''Alta California'' weekly paper, where Gilbert worked as senior editor for the next four years.<ref name=":1" />

===Political career === In September 1849, Gilbert became the youngest delegate to the Constitutional Convention, winning the San Francisco delegate position with 1,512 out of the 1,519 votes cast.<ref name=":1" /> He was elected in November 1849 at-large as one of California's first two Representatives in the 31st Congress, and served from September 11, 1850, until March 3, 1851.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite web |url=https://history.house.gov/Historical-Highlights/1800-1850/The-admission-of-California-into-the-Union/ |title=The Admission of California into the Union |publisher=The United States House of Representatives |accessdate= August 16, 2020}}</ref>

===Duel and death === In 1852, Gilbert wrote an article that charged General James W. Denver with "negligence and gross mismanagement" in an expedition to aid destitute immigrants, and the increasing conflict between Gilbert and Denver finally led Gilbert to challenge him to a duel.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://cal-press.wildapricot.org/hall-of-fame_edward-gilbert|title=California Press Foundation - Hall-of-Fame_Edward-Gilbert|website=cal-press.wildapricot.org|language=en|access-date=2017-05-15|archive-date=2020-12-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201205231602/https://cal-press.wildapricot.org/hall-of-fame_edward-gilbert|url-status=dead}}</ref> After several missed shots from both men, Denver shot Gilbert in the abdomen, killing him.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" />

Gilbert was interred in Laurel Hill Cemetery, San Francisco.<ref name=":0" /> Later, after the city banned cemeteries within city-limits, his remains were removed and buried in the Laurel Hill Mound mass grave of Cyprus Lawn Memorial Park in Colma.

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{CongBio|G000172}}

{{s-start}} {{s-par|us-hs}} {{s-new|constituency}} {{s-ttl|title=Member of the U.S. House of Representatives<br>from California's at-large congressional district<br>{{small|Seat B}}|years=1850–1851}} {{s-aft|after=Joseph W. McCorkle}} {{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gilbert, Edward}} Category:1810s births Category:1852 deaths Category:19th-century American newspaper editors Category:American politicians killed in duels Category:American military personnel of the Mexican–American War Category:Burials at Cypress Lawn Memorial Park Category:Burials at Laurel Hill Cemetery (San Francisco) Category:Deaths by firearm in California Category:Democratic Party United States representatives from California Category:People from Otsego County, Michigan Category:Year of birth uncertain Category:19th-century United States representatives