Politics and Foreign Service
Hannegan was a member of the Indiana House of Representatives 1832–1833 and 1841–1842. He was elected as a Democrat to the Twenty-third and Twenty-fourth Congresses, serving from March 4, 1833 – March 4, 1837. Hannegan was not a candidate for renomination in 1836 and resumed the practice of law; he was elected as a Democrat to the U.S. Senate in 1842 and served from March 4, 1843 to March 4, 1849. He was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1849, losing to Governor James Whitcomb.
While in the Senate, he was chairman of the Committee on Private Land Claims (Twenty-ninth Congress) and a member of the Committee on Roads and Canals (Twenty-ninth and Thirtieth Congresses) and the Committee on Foreign Relations (Thirtieth Congress).
He was appointed by President James K. Polk United States Minister to Prussia March 29, 1849 and served 1849-1850. The Queen consort of King Frederick William IV became infatuated with Hannegan. During a court function, Hannegan broke custom and kissed the hand of the queen. Irate and possibly jealous, King Frederick Wilhelm IV requested that Hannegan be recalled.
Upon his return to the United States, Hannegan resumed his law practice in Covington.
Read more about this topic: Edward A. Hannegan
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