United States Liberal Republican Party - Definition and Overview

The United States Liberal Republican Party was a political party formed in 1872 to oppose the administration of the then-current President, Ulysses S. Grant. The party's candidate in that year's presidential election was New York Times editor Horace Greeley. Following his nomination by the Liberal Republicans, Greeley was also nominated by the Democratic Party. By 1876, the Liberal Republican Party had ceased to exist. However, many political scientists believe that, by loosening the allegiance of liberal elements to the Republican Party, the Liberal Republicans made it possible for these elements to subsequently move to the Democratic Party.

Famous Liberal Republicans

• Charles Francis Adams, former congressman and ambassador, son of President John Quincy Adams.
• B. Gratz Brown, a governor of Missouri, vice-presidential candidate in the election of 1872.
• Salmon P. Chase, Chief Justice of the United States, former senator from Ohio and treasury secretary.
• David Davis, United States Supreme Court justice, later senator from Illinois.
• Horace Greeley, newspaper editor, presidential candidate in the election of 1872.
• Carl Schurz, former ambassador, Civil War general, power-broker, and senator from Missouri.
• Charles Sumner, senator from Massachusetts, anti-slavery advocate