Elijah Hise

Elijah Hise (July 4, 1802 – May 8, 1867) was a United States diplomat and U.S. Representative from the 3rd district of Kentucky.^[1]

Hise was born July 4, 1802, in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, before moving with his parents, Frederick and Nancy (Eckstein) Hise, to Russellville, Kentucky, when young. He completed preparatory studies and then attended Transylvania University, Lexington, Kentucky. He studied law and was admitted to the bar and commenced practice.

Hise was a member of the Kentucky House of Representatives in 1829. He was an unsuccessful Democratic candidate for Lieutenant Governor in 1836. He served as the Chargé d'Affaires to Guatemala, January 31, 1849 – June 23, 1849.^[2] In addition, he was the chief justice of the Court of Appeals of Kentucky.

Hise was elected as a Democrat to the Thirty-ninth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Henry Grider, and he was reelected to the Fortieth Congress. In all he served from December 3, 1866, until his death by suicide on May 8, 1867, in Russellville, Kentucky. He left behind a suicide note in which he rued "the impending disaster and ruin [of the country] in which despotic and unconstitutional rule has involved her."^[3] He was buried in Maple Grove Cemetery.^[4]

The town of Hiseville, Kentucky, was named in honor of the congressman.^[5]

• List of United States Congress members who died in office (1790–1899)