Edwin Fuller Uhl (August 14, 1841 – May 17, 1901) was a prominent

Michigan Michigan ( ) is a peninsular U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest, Upper Midwestern United States. It shares water and land boundaries with Minnesota to the northwest, Wisconsin to the west, ...

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and

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. He served as

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Grand Rapids, Michigan Grand Rapids is the largest city and county seat of Kent County, Michigan, United States. With a population of 198,917 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census and estimated at 200,117 in 2024, Grand Rapids is the List of municipalities ...

, Ambassador to Germany and

United States Assistant Secretary of State Assistant Secretary of State (A/S) is a title used for many executive positions in the United States Department of State, ranking below the Under Secretary of State, under secretaries. A set of six assistant secretaries reporting to the Under Sec ...

Biography

Uhl was born in the township of

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, the son of David M. and Catherine (De Garmo) Uhl. The family moved to a farm near

Ypsilanti, Michigan Ypsilanti ( ), commonly shortened to Ypsi ( ), is a college town and city located on the Huron River in Washtenaw County, Michigan, Washtenaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the city's popu ...

, in 1844. Uhl graduated from the

University of Michigan The University of Michigan (U-M, U of M, or Michigan) is a public university, public research university in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1817, it is the oldest institution of higher education in the state. The University of Mi ...

in 1862 and received an M.A. degree from the same institution in 1863. He then studied

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, gaining admission to the Michigan

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in January 1864, and began practice. He would practice law alone and in partnerships for the next thirty years. On May 1, 1865, Uhl married Alice Follett, the daughter of Benjamin Follett, a prominent citizen and onetime mayor of Ypsilanti. They had four children: Lucy Follett, David Edwin, Alice Edwina and Marshall Mortimer. In 1870 Uhl was elected Prosecuting Attorney of

Washtenaw County Washtenaw County ( ) is a county located in the U.S. state of Michigan. At the 2020 census, the population was 372,258. The county seat and largest city is Ann Arbor. The county was authorized by legislation in 1822 and organized as a county ...

and served in that office for two years. In 1876 the Uhl family moved to

Grand Rapids Grand Rapids is the largest city and county seat of Kent County, Michigan, United States. With a population of 198,917 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census and estimated at 200,117 in 2024, Grand Rapids is the List of municipalities ...

. In 1881 he became president of the Grand Rapids National Bank; he remained in that position until 1893, then returned to it in 1897. At one time he served as President of the Bar Association of Grand Rapids. In 1890 he was elected Mayor of Grand Rapids, serving two years. In 1893 Uhl was appointed

Assistant Secretary of State Assistant Secretary of State (A/S) is a title used for many executive positions in the United States Department of State, ranking below the under secretaries. A set of six assistant secretaries reporting to the under secretary for political aff ...

and moved to

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From May 28 to June 9, 1895, he served as Acting Secretary of State by appointment of

President Cleveland Stephen Grover Cleveland (March 18, 1837June 24, 1908) was the 22nd and 24th president of the United States, serving from 1885 to 1889 and from 1893 to 1897. He was the first U.S. president to serve nonconsecutive terms and the first Dem ...

. In 1895 the federal government appointed him to inspect US

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s throughout

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and in 1896 he was appointed Ambassador to Germany, a post he held until 1897, when the Cleveland administration and its appointees were replaced. He returned to Grand Rapids and resumed his career there until his death four years later. He is buried in Highland Cemetery in

External links

Biography of Edwin F. Uhl, from ''The History of Kent County, Michigan'', Chicago: Chas. C. Chapman & Co., 1881
{{DEFAULTSORT:Uhl, Edwin F. 1841 births 1901 deaths 19th-century American diplomats 19th-century mayors of places in Michigan Acting United States secretaries of state Ambassadors of the United States to Germany Mayors of Grand Rapids, Michigan People from Rush, New York Politicians from Ypsilanti, Michigan United States assistant secretaries of state University of Michigan alumni Burials at Highland Cemetery