Robert A. New
Robert Allen New (1789 – June 20, 1856) was an American soldier and politician who served as the 1st non-Territorial Secretary of State of Indiana from November 7, 1816 to December 6, 1825. Biography Early life Robert New’s father was Jethro New, a Continental Army soldier from Delaware who moved first to North Carolina and then to Owen County, Kentucky, near New Liberty, in 1794. Robert was one of his thirteen children. Jethro New’s descendants formed one of Indiana’s most prominent political dynasties. Robert New was the uncle of John C. New (Treasurer of the United States under Ulysses S. Grant, son of John Bowman New) and Jeptha D. New (U.S. Representative from Indiana, son of Hickman New), and he was the great-uncle of Harry Stewart New (U.S. Senator from Indiana and U.S. Postmaster General under Warren Harding and Calvin Coolidge, son of John C. New). The News were a Primitive Baptist family. The News left Kentucky and resettled in Indiana. Robert New joined the Indiana Militia and attained the rank of captain in 1814. In 1815, New became aide-de-camp to Thomas Posey, the Governor of Indiana Territory. Political career In 1816, when Indiana attained statehood, New was elected the