William H. Crawford
William Harris Crawford | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 9th United States Secretary of War | |
| In office August 1, 1815 – October 22, 1816 | |
| Preceded by | James Monroe |
| Succeeded by | John C. Calhoun |
| 7th United States Secretary of the Treasury | |
| In office October 22, 1816 – March 6, 1825 | |
| Preceded by | Alexander J. Dallas |
| Succeeded by | Richard Rush |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 24, 1772 Amherst County, Virginia, USA |
| Died | September 15, 1834 (aged 62) Crawford, Georgia, USA |
| Political party | Democratic-Republican |
| Profession | Lawyer, Politician, Judge, Farmer, Teacher |
William Harris Crawford (February 24, 1772 – September 15, 1834) was an important American politician, as well as a judge, during the early 19th century. He served as United States Secretary of War from 1815 to 1816 and United States Secretary of the Treasury from 1816 to 1825, and was a candidate for President of the United States in 1824. He was the cousin of George W. Crawford.
Crawford was born in Amherst County, Virginia, but his family moved south to Appling County, Georgia, when he was a boy. As a young man, he worked as a farmer and a schoolteacher for about 10 years, then began to practice law in Lexington, Georgia in 1799.
In 1803, Crawford was elected to the Georgia state legislature as a member of the Democratic-Republican Party. In 1807, that legislature elected him to fill a vacant United States Senate seat.
Crawford soon became a respected and influential senator, and was elected president pro tempore in 1811. On April 12, 1812 Vice President George Clinton died in office which made Crawford, as President Pro Tempore, the Acting Vice President until March 4, 1813. In recognition of his abilities, President James Madison appointed Crawford as the American minister to the First French Empire in 1812. Crawford held that important ministerial post throughout the War of 1812, and returned shortly after its end in 1815.
Upon Crawford's return, Madison appointed him as Secretary of War. After slightly more than a year of satisfactory service in that post (and after disclaiming interest in the 1816 Democratic-Republican nomination for President, which he could have had), Crawford moved within the Cabinet to become Secretary of the Treasury. He remained in that position through the rest of Madison's term and Monroe's entire administration which ended in 1825.
Crawford was again a leading candidate for the Democratic-Republican presidential nomination in 1824, but a massive stroke in 1823 ended his chances. The Democratic-Republican Party split apart that year, and one of the splinter groups nominated Crawford. Despite Crawford's improved health (and the support of former presidents Madison and Thomas Jefferson), he finished only third, behind John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson. Refusing Adams' request that he remain at the Treasury, Crawford then retired to Georgia, where he was appointed as a state superior court judge.
Crawford remained an active judge until his death a decade later. He is buried in Crawford Cemetery in Crawford, Georgia.
Fractional currency
In 1875, William Harris Crawford appeared on the 50 cent bill. Just above it an original wax letter sealer he used while in various offices.
Trivia
The town of Crawfordsville, Indiana, as well as Crawford County, Illinois; Crawford County, Iowa; Crawford County, Missouri; Crawford County, Arkansas; Crawford County, Wisconsin; Crawfordville, Georgia; and Crawford County, Georgia, are named for Crawford.
References
- Garraty, John A. and Mark C. Carnes. American National Biography, vol. 5, "Crawford, William Harris". New York : Oxford University Press, 1999.
|  | |
|  | |
