Establishment of Iowa Territory and Robert Lucas as governor

Background. Prior to 1838, the area west of the Mississippi River was part of Wisconsin Territory following Michigan's statehood in 1836. Iowa Territory was established as an organized incorporated territory on July 3, 1838. Its original boundaries included Minnesota and parts of the Dakotas, covering approximately 194,000 square miles. Burlington served as the provisional capital, while Iowa City was designated as the official capital in 1841.

Governance and Leadership. Robert Lucas served as the first governor of Iowa Territory from 1838 to 1841. However, he was not technically the first acting governor. Conway, appointed territorial secretary by President Martin Van Buren, arrived in Iowa six weeks before Lucas and assumed the duties of acting governor. Lucas spent his tenure mostly in Burlington and Muscatine, as Iowa City had only provisional accommodations for the legislature.

Territorial Status. Iowa Territory existed from July 3, 1838, until December 28, 1846, when the southeastern portion was admitted to the Union as the state of Iowa. The remainder of the territory had no organized government until the Minnesota Territory was organized in 1849. Multiple Native American groups, including the Sac, Fox, and Sioux, occupied the territory prior to the Louisiana Purchase.