James W. Denver served as acting Territorial Governor of Kansas from December 21, 1857, through May 12, 1858, before becoming the seventh Territorial Governor of Kansas, serving from May 12 to July 3, and July 30 through October, 1858. This engraving was made while he was serving as a member of the 34th Congress from California, just prior to being appointed acting Territorial Governor for the Kansas Territory.