Nathaniel Hale Pryor was born in 1820 in Virginia, the son of a prominent family. His father, Nathaniel Pryor, was a prominent lawyer and politician who served in the Virginia House of Delegates and the United States House of Representatives. His mother, Mary Hale, was a member of the prominent Hale family of Virginia.
Nathaniel Hale Pryor was educated at the University of Virginia, where he studied law and graduated in 1841. After graduation, he moved to St. Louis, Missouri, where he practiced law and became involved in politics. He was elected to the Missouri House of Representatives in 1844 and served until 1848. During his time in the Missouri House of Representatives, he was a strong advocate for the rights of African Americans and was a leader in the movement to abolish slavery in Missouri.
In 1848, Pryor was appointed as the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri. He served in this position until 1853, when he was appointed as the United States Attorney General for the Western District of Missouri. During his tenure as United States Attorney General, Pryor was a strong advocate for the rights of Native Americans and was instrumental in negotiating treaties with several Native American tribes.
In 1854, Pryor was appointed as the United States Commissioner of Indian Affairs. In this position, he was responsible for negotiating treaties with Native American tribes and for overseeing the implementation of those treaties. He was also responsible for the establishment of Indian schools and for the protection of Native American rights.
In 1857, Pryor was appointed as the United States Minister to Mexico. During his tenure in this position, he was responsible for negotiating the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which ended the Mexican-American War and established the United States-Mexico border.
In 1861, Pryor resigned from his position as United States Minister to Mexico and returned to the United States. He was appointed as the United States Commissioner of Indian Affairs in 1862 and served in this position until 1865. During his tenure as Commissioner of Indian Affairs, he was responsible for negotiating treaties with several Native American tribes and for overseeing the implementation of those treaties.
In 1865, Pryor was appointed as the United States Minister to Spain. During his tenure in this position, he was responsible for negotiating the Treaty of Washington, which ended the Spanish-American War and established the United States-Spain border.
Nathaniel Hale Pryor died in 1875 in Washington, D.C. He was remembered as a strong advocate for the rights of African Americans and Native Americans and for his role in negotiating several important treaties. He is remembered as one of the most influential figures in the history of the United States.