James Harlan (senator)

James Harlan
8th United States Secretary of the Interior
In office May 16, 1865 – August 31, 1866
President	Andrew Johnson
Preceded by	John Palmer Usher
Succeeded by	Orville Hickman Browning
Personal details
Born	(1820-08-26)August 26, 1820 Clark County, Illinois, U.S.
Died	October 5, 1899(1899-10-05) (aged 79) Mount Pleasant, Iowa, U.S.
Political party	Whig, Free Soil, Republican
Spouse(s)	Ann Eliza Peck (1824-1884)
Alma mater	Indiana Asbury University
Profession	Politician
Religion	Methodist

James Harlan (August 26, 1820 – October 5, 1899) was a member of the United States Senate and a U.S. Cabinet Secretary.

Life and career

James Harlan was born in Clark County, Illinois on August 26, 1820. He was raised in Indiana and graduated from Indiana Asbury University (now DePauw University) in 1845.

He moved to Iowa City, Iowa, where he served as Superintendent of Schools. He also studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1850. Active in politics, in 1850 he declined the Whig nomination for Governor of Iowa. From 1853 to 1855 Harlan was president of Iowa Wesleyan College in Mount Pleasant, Iowa.

Harlan was elected to the United States Senate as a Free Soil Party candidate in 1855. In 1857 the Senate declared the seat vacant because of irregularities in the legislative election that Harlan won. He was then reelected as a Republican and served until 1865. In 1861 Harlan was a Delegate to the Peace Conference that unsuccessfully attempted to arrange a compromise that would head off the hostilities that commenced the American Civil War.

In 1865 he resigned to become Secretary of the Interior under President Andrew Johnson, an appointment he held until 1866. As secretary he announced that he intended to "clean house" and fired "a considerable number of incumbents who were seldom at their respective desks". He had done so after requesting, in late May 1865, a report listing all employees who (1.) uttered disloyal statements since the bombardment of Fort Sumter, (2.) all those not known to entertain loyal sentiments or who had associated with those known to be disloyal, (3.) those who were inefficient or not necessary to transact public business, (4.) all such persons "as disregard in their conduct, habits, and associations, the rules of decorum, [and] propriety proscribed by a christian civilization." Amongst this group was the poet Walt Whitman, then working as a clerk in the department, who received his dismissal note on June 30, 1865. Harlan had found a copy of Leaves of Grass on Whitman's desk as the poet was making revisions and found it to be morally offensive. "I will not have the author of that book in this Department", he said. "If the President of the United States should order his reinstatement, I would resign sooner than I would put him back." 29 years later, however, he defended his actions, saying that Whitman was dismissed solely "on the grounds that his services were not needed".

Harlan was a member of the Southern Treaty Commission that renegotiated treaties with Indian Tribes that sided with the Confederacy. Harlan resigned from the post in 1866 when he no longer supported the policies of President Johnson. He was elected again to the United States Senate in 1867 and served until 1873. During his Senate service Harlan was Chairman of the following committees: Public Lands; District of Columbia; Education; and Indian Affairs.

Harlan was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1872, and was also an unsuccessful candidate for Governor in 1895.

From 1882 to 1886 Harlan was Presiding Judge for the Court of Commissioners that heard cases related to the Alabama claims.

James Harlan died in Mount Pleasant on October 5, 1899. Along with pioneer Governor Samuel Kirkwood, Harlan's sculptured likeness is maintained among the two statues apportioned to each state for display in the United States Capitol. The Harlan statue is located in the Hall of Columns.

Harlan was a close friend of President Abraham Lincoln and his family. In 1868 his daughter, Mary Eunice Harlan, married Lincoln's son, Robert Todd Lincoln. Harlan's home in Mount Pleasant, now known as the Harlan-Lincoln House, is a museum that houses memorabilia from both the Harlan and Lincoln families.

External links

• Congressional Biography
• Harlan-Lincoln House, Mount Pleasant, Iowa
• James Harlan, Secretary of the Interior

United States Senate
Preceded by Augustus C. Dodge	United States Senator (Class 3) from Iowa 1855–1865 Served alongside: George W. Jones and James W. Grimes	Succeeded by Samuel J. Kirkwood
Preceded by Samuel J. Kirkwood	United States Senator (Class 3) from Iowa 1867–1873 Served alongside: James W. Grimes, James B. Howell and George G. Wright	Succeeded by William B. Allison
Political offices
Preceded by John P. Usher	U.S. Secretary of the Interior Served under: Andrew Johnson 1865–1866	Succeeded by Orville H. Browning