150th Anniversary of Death of James G. Birney Marked Nov. 25

Forgotten Prophet, Anti-Slavery Presidential Candidate, Lived in Bay City

November 25, 2007
By: Dave Rogers

James G. Birney died Nov. 25, 1857 in Eagleswood, New Jersey, so Sunday marked the 150th anniversary of his death.

Birney is undoubtedly the most famous person who ever lived in Saginaw and Bay City where he resided 1842-1853.

His passing attracted little attention, even though the New York Times had printed an unflattering premature obituary five years previously.

Even though Birney was the first anti-slavery Presidential candidate, antedating Abraham Lincoln by 20 years, by the time of his death he was either forgotten or scorned.

Even in Michigan, where Birney's abolitionists activities helped lay the foundation for the founding of the Republican Party, his death was virtually unnoticed.

Birney was also the first Presidential candidate from Michigan, although most historians credit Lewis Cass, Democrat who ran in 1848, with that honor.


Birney was the stalwart of the anti-slavery Liberty Party, a third party movement that drew few votes in two campaigns, 1840 (7,000 votes) and 1844 (62,000 votes).

However, Birney deserves more recognition, some historians now feel, because he provided part of the inspiration for Harriet Beecher Stowe's monumental book, "Uncle Tom's Cabin." According to Mrs. Stowe's biographer, Joan Hedrick, the author was so impressed by Birney's stand against slavery in Cincinnati that she began to write the novel that Lincoln felt contributed to the start of the Civil War.

After getting so few votes in 1840, Birney, distraught over the nation's perpetuation of slavery, sought solace in the wilds of Michigan. He lived six months in the Webster House in Saginaw and then moved to a house in Lower Saginaw (Bay City) that had been built by the Saginaw Bay Company at Fifth and Water. The location is believed to be the present site of the Jennison Place condominiums.

Four of Birney's sons and a grandson served in the Civil War; David Bell and William were major generals, Dion was a captain, Fitzhugh a major and grandson James G. IV was a captain. Bay City's 7th Michigan Cavalry Civil War Round Table celebrates Capt. Birney's heroism at Gettysburg and other service and his sword was acquired several years ago by the community and placed in the Bay County Historical Museum.

The fact that historian Ray Herek of Saginaw recently found the lost grave of Capt. Birney in Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, New York, made front page news in the Bay City Times.

Birney's contributions to the political history of the nation are yet to be fully recognized. However, two reports in the Duke University Law Journal in recent years give him credit for providing the foundation for the 14 Amendment, guaranteeing due process and equal justice for all.

Streets in Saginaw, Bay City and Essexville, a park in Bay City and elementary schools in Washington, D.C., and other cities, are named after Birney.

He is buried in Livingston County, New York, with his wife, Elizabeth Fitzhugh Birney.###