George W. Campbell
George Washington Campbell | |
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Engraved portrait of George W. Campbell | |
5th United States Secretary of the Treasury | |
In office February 9, 1814 – October 5, 1814 | |
President | James Madison |
Preceded by | Albert Gallatin |
Succeeded by | Alexander J. Dallas |
United States Senator from Tennessee | |
In office October 10, 1815 – April 20, 1818 | |
Preceded by | Joseph Anderson |
Succeeded by | John H. Eaton |
In office October 8, 1811 – February 11, 1814 | |
Preceded by | Jenkin Whiteside |
Succeeded by | Jesse Wharton |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Tennessee's 2nd district | |
In office March 4, 1805 – March 3, 1809 | |
Preceded by | New district |
Succeeded by | Robert Weakley |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Tennessee's AL district | |
In office March 4, 1803 – March 3, 1805 | |
Preceded by | New seat |
Succeeded by | None |
Personal details | |
Born |
Tongue, Highland, Scotland | February 9, 1769
Died |
February 17, 1848 79) Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. | (aged
Political party | Democratic-Republican |
Spouse(s) | Harriot Stoddert Campbell |
Alma mater | College of New Jersey |
Profession | Politician, Lawyer |
George Washington Campbell (February 9, 1769 – February 17, 1848) was an American statesman who served as a U.S. Representative, Senator, Tennessee Supreme Court Justice, U.S. Ambassador to Russia and the 5th United States Secretary of the Treasury from February to October 1814.
Biography
Born in Tongue, Highland, he immigrated as a young boy to North Carolina in 1772 with his parents. He graduated from the College of New Jersey (which is now Princeton University) in 1794[1] and began studying law. He was admitted to the bar in North Carolina and began practicing in Knoxville, Tennessee.
U.S. House
He was elected to the United States House of Representatives as the Representative from Tennessee's at-large congressional district in 1803. He served in the House from 1805–1809, in the 8th, 9th, and 10th Congresses. During the 10th Congress, he was the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee. He was also one of the managers appointed in 1804 to conduct the impeachment hearings for John Pickering, judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire, and later in the same year, the impeachment hearings against Samuel Chase, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. He wounded Representative Barrent Gardiner of New York during a duel at Blandensburg, Maryland in 1808. Source Wikipedia article on Barrent Gardiner
He left Congress in 1809 to become judge of the Tennessee Supreme Court, serving until 1811.
U.S. Senate and ambassadorship
He served as a United States Senator from Tennessee twice, once from 1811 to 1814, having been elected to fill the seat of Jenkin Whiteside, and again from 1815 to 1818. His first service was from October 8, 1811 to February 11, 1814, when he resigned to accept appointment as the United States Secretary of the Treasury. He returned to the Senate on October 10, 1815. He served as the first chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and its predecessor from December 4, 1815, until his resignation from the Senate on April 20, 1818; on this occasion to accept appointment as United States Ambassador to Russia, a position he held from 1818-1821. Campbell served as a member of the French Spoliation Claims Commission in 1831.
Secretary of the Treasury
Appointed Secretary of the Treasury by James Madison, he faced national financial disorder brought on by the War of 1812. Congress had failed to recharter the First Bank of the United States after its charter expired in 1811, and appropriations for the war were unavailable, so Campbell had to convince Americans to buy government bonds. He was forced to meet to lenders terms, selling government bonds at exorbitant interest rates. In September, 1814 the British occupied Washington, D.C. and the credit of the government was lowered even further. Campbell was unsuccessful in his efforts to raise money through additional bond sales and he resigned that October after only eight months in office, disillusioned and in bad health.
He died in 1848 and is buried at Nashville City Cemetery in Nashville, Tennessee.
Campbell County, Tennessee, is named in his honor.
References
- ↑ see the book: Princeton College During the Eighteenth Century, at
- United States Congress. "George W. Campbell (id: C000083)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- Google Books, page 272 for Year 1794
External links
- Media related to George W. Campbell at Wikimedia Commons
United States House of Representatives | ||
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Preceded by None (new seat) |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Tennessee's at-large congressional district March 4, 1803 – March 3, 1805 Served alongside: William Dickson and John Rhea, in a 3-seat district |
Succeeded by None (seat eliminated) |
Preceded by None (new district) |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Tennessee's 2nd congressional district March 4, 1805 – March 3, 1809 |
Succeeded by Robert Weakley |
United States Senate | ||
Preceded by Jenkin Whiteside |
U.S. Senator (Class 2) from Tennessee October 8, 1811 – February 11, 1814 Served alongside: Joseph Anderson |
Succeeded by Jesse Wharton |
Preceded by Joseph Anderson |
U.S. Senator (Class 1) from Tennessee October 10, 1815 – April 20, 1818 Served alongside: Jesse Wharton, John Williams |
Succeeded by John H. Eaton |
Preceded by None (Committee created) |
Chairman of the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Finance and a Uniform National Currency 1815 – 1816 |
Succeeded by None (Select committee was replaced by the U.S. Senate Finance Committee) |
Preceded by None (New standing committee created to replace U.S. Senate Select Committee on Finance and a Uniform National Currency) |
Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance 1816 – 1818 |
Succeeded by John W. Eppes |
Political offices | ||
Preceded by Albert Gallatin |
U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Served under: James Madison February 9, 1814 – October 5, 1814 |
Succeeded by Alexander J. Dallas |