Representative Isaac Edwin Crary

Isaac Edwin Crary (October 2, 1804 – May 8, 1854) was an American lawyer, educator, and Democratic politician who became the first elected U.S. Representative from the state of Michigan. Over the course of his public career he played a formative role in the early political life of Michigan, served three terms in the United States Congress, and helped design the framework of the state’s public school system. He also served in the Michigan House of Representatives, including a term as Speaker.

Crary was born in Preston, Connecticut, on October 2, 1804. He attended local public schools and later enrolled at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. He was a member of the first graduating class of Trinity College, receiving his degree in 1827. After college he studied law, was admitted to the bar, and commenced legal practice in Hartford. During this early professional period he also participated in journalism, serving as assistant editor of the New England Weekly Review, a role that reflected his growing engagement with public affairs and political discourse.

In 1833 Crary moved west to Marshall, in the Michigan Territory, where he continued the practice of law and quickly became involved in territorial politics. As Michigan moved toward statehood, he emerged as a significant figure in the constitutional debates of the new state. In 1835 he served as a delegate to the Michigan state constitutional convention, where he worked on the foundational legal and governmental structures that would guide Michigan upon its admission to the Union.

Upon the adoption of the state constitution and Michigan’s effort to enter the Union, Crary was elected on October 5–6, 1835, as a Jacksonian to the Twenty-fourth Congress, becoming the first elected U.S. Representative from Michigan. Because of the ongoing boundary dispute with Ohio over the Toledo Strip, known as the Toledo War, Congress initially refused to accept the credentials of Michigan’s congressional delegation. During this interim period Crary was seated as a delegate rather than as a full voting representative. After Congress formally admitted Michigan as a state on January 26, 1837, he took his seat as a full member of the House of Representatives. He was subsequently re-elected as a Democrat to the Twenty-fifth and Twenty-sixth Congresses, serving continuously until March 3, 1841. As a member of the Democratic Party representing Michigan, he contributed to the legislative process during three terms in office, participating in the democratic process at a time of rapid national expansion and intense partisan conflict, and representing the interests of his Michigan constituents.

Crary’s congressional career was marked by both substantive engagement and a notable political episode during the presidential campaign of 1840. On February 14, 1840, during House debate over funding for the Cumberland Road, he delivered a speech attacking the military record of Whig presidential candidate William Henry Harrison, dismissing Harrison’s reputation as an Indian fighter and portraying him as a spurious military hero. His remarks were well received by many of his fellow Democrats on the House floor. The following day, however, Representative Thomas Corwin of Ohio, celebrated for his wit and oratory, responded with a satirical speech that mocked Crary’s own status as a militia general in Michigan. Corwin humorously depicted Crary presiding over the perils of militia parade day and, in a widely quoted passage, described him dramatically unsheathing his sword only to slice watermelons “with an energy and remorseless fury” after the mock “battle” was over. According to journalist Benjamin Perley Poore, Corwin’s reply was “one of the most wonderful speeches ever delivered at Washington,” leaving the House “convulsed with laughter” at Crary’s expense. As reports of the speech spread in newspapers across the country in February and March 1840, the episode became a source of national amusement and damaged Crary’s political standing. He was not renominated to Congress in the subsequent election.

Beyond his service in Congress, Crary played a central role in the development of public education in Michigan. He served as a regent of the University of Michigan from 1837 to 1844, helping to guide the early growth of the institution. Working closely with John D. Pierce, he co-authored the education article of the 1835 Michigan constitution. Crary and Pierce together planned Michigan’s statewide public school system, establishing a separate department of education administered by a superintendent and introducing a system of uniform schooling throughout the state. He was appointed a member of the state board of education, and in that capacity he served for many years, with sources indicating his involvement extending into the early 1850s. His work in this field made him one of the principal architects of Michigan’s educational institutions.

Crary remained active in state politics and journalism after leaving Congress. He edited the Marshall Expounder, a local newspaper, for several years, using the press as a vehicle for political commentary and civic engagement. He also served in the Michigan House of Representatives from 1842 to 1846. During this period he continued to influence state policy and legislative affairs, culminating in his election as Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives in 1846. His combined experience as legislator, editor, and educational reformer gave him a prominent place in the civic life of early Michigan.

Isaac Edwin Crary died in Marshall, Michigan, on May 8, 1854. He was interred at Oakridge Cemetery in Marshall. His contributions to Michigan’s political and educational development were later commemorated through the naming of Isaac E. Crary Elementary School in Detroit, Michigan, and Isaac E. Crary Middle School in Waterford, Michigan, reflecting the enduring recognition of his role in shaping the state’s institutions.