Elijah Hise was an American diplomat and lawyer. He served as a diplomat and U. S. Representative from the 3rd district of Kentucky.
Background
Elijah Hise was born on July 4, 1801, in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. He was of German parentage. His father, Frederick Hise, seems to have come to the United States during the Revolution and to have fought in some of its battles. In the early years of the nineteenth century the father moved his family to Kentucky and finally settled as a merchant in Russellville, Logan County.
Education
Hise evidently secured his preparatory schooling, but he went to Transylvania University, at Lexington, for his professional training, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Law in 1823. Shortly afterward he began the practice of law in Russellville.
Career
Aided by dramatic gifts and unusual eloquence, as well as by natural aptitude for the law, Hise developed a large practice, became widely known as a lawyer, and accumulated a fortune. He filled no important political office until after President Polk had appointed him, early in April 1848, chargé to Guatemala. At the time, the United States government was disturbed over British aggressions in Central America, especially in Nicaragua, where the British government had set up a protectorate over the Mosquito Indians. It was the aim of the Polk administration to learn through Hise the extent of the British activities and to secure a general survey of the situation in Central America, with a view to adopting a specific policy. Hise was instructed accordingly. Shortly after his arrival on the Isthmus he negotiated treaties of friendship and commerce with Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. He had been instructed not to treat with the last two but felt justified in doing so because he had become quickly convinced of the unfriendly designs of England. That country, he believed, aimed especially to monopolize the canal route across Nicaragua.
Hence, after having waited in vain for further instructions from his government, he decided to prevent the success of the supposed British schemes by signing, on his own responsibility, a canal treaty with Nicaragua. This was done in June 1849. By the terms of the document the United States or its citizens were to receive the exclusive right to build an interoceanic waterway across Nicaragua, and in return for this concession the United States was to guarantee protection to Nicaragua in all territory rightly hers. Meanwhile, in May 1849, Hise had been recalled, though he did not receive word until after the treaty had been negotiated. The treaty was never ratified, but it caused considerable embarrassment to the Taylor administration.
During the remainder of his career Hise devoted most of his time to private law practice; but in 1851 he was elected judge of the Kentucky court of appeals, serving until August 1854.
In the autumn of 1866 he was elected to Congress from Kentucky, to fill out the term of Henry Girder, and devoted himself with despairing energy to the vain task of supporting President Johnson and of preventing the passage of drastic reconstruction legislation. Early in May 1867, he was reëlected to office, but a few days later, ill and despondent over his inability to help his country, he shot himself in his Russellville home.
Achievements
Religion
Hise was an ardent Democrat and supported Jackson in a strongly Whig community.
Personality
Though Hise was uncompromising in his political views, high-strung, and at times morose, his frankness and sincerity, his keen, logical mind, and especially his unusual ability as a public speaker, won him considerable admiration and respect.
Connections
In 1832, after being well established in his profession, Hise married Elvira L. D. Stewart, whose parents were Russellville pioneers.