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Captain
Elected company captain of Illinois militia in Black Hawk War. -
Deputy
Appointed postmaster of New Salem, Illinois
Appointed deputy surveyor of Sangamon County -
Legislature
Elected to Illinois state Legislature -
State Legislature
Re-elected to Illinois state legislature (running first in his district)
Received license to practice law in Illinois state courts -
Leg whig delegation
Led Whig delegation in moving Illinois state capital from Vandalia to Springfield
Became law partner of John T. Stuart -
House speaker
Nominated for Illinois House Speaker by Whig caucus
Re-elected to Illinois House (running first in his district)
Served as Whig floor leader -
Presidential election
Chosen presidential elector by first Whig convention
Admitted to practice law in U.S. Circuit Court -
Supreme Court
Argues first case before Illinois Supreme Court
Re-elected to Illinois state legislature -
Laws
Established new law practice with Stephen T. Logan -
Practice law
Admitted to practice law in U.S. District Court -
Elected to Congress
Elected to Congress -
Elected to Illinois
Elected to Illinois state legislature (but declined seat to run for U.S. Senate) -
Became President
Elected President
