Stephen A. Douglas, the “little giant” of national politics, was born in Brandon in 1813 and later moved to Middlebury to learn cabinet making before returning to Brandon to attend the Academy. After moving to Illinois in 1833, his career became closely tied to the course of American politics and reached its height in his famous debates with Abraham Lincoln in 1858. Although he opposed Lincoln during that campaign, he supported the Union until his death in June, 1861.