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A review by lizdesole
American Scoundrel by Thomas Keneally
4.0
Wow what a swine. The first man to get off a murder charge through "temporary insanity". Also a member of Tammany Hall. And a civil war general. So interesting to realize how rough things were still in Washington DC 150 years ago. This guys takes the cake though for a king amongst DC scum-and that's really saying something. What one can get away with when well-connected
So this was from before I finished the book. The man was a regular Zelig.
He was a Tammany hall politician, then a US congressman (3 non-consecutive times I believe). He murdered Francis Scott Key's son and was the first person to successfully use the temporary insanity plea for murder. He then became a confidante to Mary Todd Lincoln (and somewhat Abraham). He was a civil war general who may have almost lost Gettysburg or was instrumental in winning (depending on who you ask). The leg he lost there is on display at the Smithsonian. He was a diplomat and had an affair with the deposed queen of Spain and married one of her attendants. He gathered animals for the central park zoo (he was also instrumental in the creation of Central Park)
He, of course died in debt and obviously has mostly been forgotten by history, but what a ride!
So this was from before I finished the book. The man was a regular Zelig.
He was a Tammany hall politician, then a US congressman (3 non-consecutive times I believe). He murdered Francis Scott Key's son and was the first person to successfully use the temporary insanity plea for murder. He then became a confidante to Mary Todd Lincoln (and somewhat Abraham). He was a civil war general who may have almost lost Gettysburg or was instrumental in winning (depending on who you ask). The leg he lost there is on display at the Smithsonian. He was a diplomat and had an affair with the deposed queen of Spain and married one of her attendants. He gathered animals for the central park zoo (he was also instrumental in the creation of Central Park)
He, of course died in debt and obviously has mostly been forgotten by history, but what a ride!