William H. Crawford

This article is about the 19th century Georgia politician. For the 18th century U.S. military officer, see William Crawford (soldier).

William Crawford
7th United States Secretary of the Treasury
In office October 22, 1816 – March 6, 1825
President	James Madison James Monroe
Preceded by	Alexander Dallas
Succeeded by	Richard Rush
9th United States Secretary of War
In office August 1, 1815 – October 22, 1816
President	James Madison
Preceded by	James Monroe
Succeeded by	John Calhoun
United States Minister to France
In office March 23, 1813 – August 1, 1815
President	James Madison
Preceded by	Joel Barlow
Succeeded by	Albert Gallatin
President pro tempore of the U.S. Senate
In office March 24, 1812 – March 23, 1813
Preceded by	John Pope
Succeeded by	Joseph Varnum
United States Senator from Georgia
In office November 7, 1807 – March 23, 1813
Preceded by	George Jones
Succeeded by	William Bulloch
Personal details
Born	William Harris Crawford (1772-02-24)February 24, 1772 Amherst County, Virginia, British America
Died	September 15, 1834(1834-09-15) (aged 62) Crawford, Georgia, U.S.
Political party	Democratic-Republican (1803–1828) Democratic (1828–1834)
Spouse	Susanna Gerardine
Children	7

Bureau of Engraving and Printing portrait of Crawford as Secretary of the Treasury

William Harris Crawford (February 24, 1772 – September 15, 1834) was an American politician and 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. He also ran for President in the 1824 election.

Early life

Crawford was born on February 24, 1772 in the portion of Amherst County, Virginia that later became Nelson County, the son of Joel Crawford and Fanny Harris, but at least one source has given his birthplace as Tusculum, a house whose site remains in Amherst County. He moved with his family to Edgefield County, South Carolina in 1779 and to Columbia County, Georgia in 1783. Crawford was educated at private schools in Georgia and at Richmond Academy in Augusta. After his father's death, Crawford became the family's main financial provider, and he worked on the Crawford family farm and taught school. He later studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1799 and began to practice in Lexington. Also in 1799, Crawford was appointed by the state legislature to prepare a digest of Georgia's statutes.

State politics

He influenced Georgia politics for decades. In 1803, Crawford was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives as a member of the Democratic-Republican Party, and he served until 1807. He allied himself with Senator James Jackson. Their enemies were the Clarkites, led by John Clark. In 1802, he shot and killed Peter Lawrence Van Alen, a Clark ally, in a duel. Four years later, on December 16, 1806, Crawford faced Clark himself in a duel, and Crawford's left wrist being shattered by a shot from Clark, but he eventually recovered.

In Congress

In 1807, Crawford joined the 10th United States Congress as the junior U.S. Senator from Georgia when the Georgia legislature elected him to replace George Jones, who had held the office for a few months after the death of Abraham Baldwin.

Crawford was elected President pro tempore in 1811. When Vice President George Clinton died on April 20, 1812, Crawford, as President pro tempore, became the first Acting Vice President until March 4, 1813.

In 1811, Crawford declined to serve as Secretary of War in the Madison administration. In the Senate, he voted for several acts leading up to the War of 1812, and he supported the entry into the war, but he was ready for peace: "Let it then be the wisdom of this nation to remain at peace, as long as peace is within its option."

Minister to France

In 1813, President James Madison appointed Crawford as the US minister to France during the waning years of the First French Empire; Crawford held that ministerial post until 1815, shortly after the end of the war.

Cabinet

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 presidential race as the Democratic-Republican nomination, Crawford moved within the Cabinet to become Secretary of the Treasury. He remained in that position through the rest of Madison's term and James Monroe's Sentire administration, which ended in 1825.

1824 election

Crawford was again a leading candidate for the Democratic-Republican presidential nomination in the 1824 election. However, Crawford was put out of the running because of a paralytic stroke he had suffered in 1823 because of a prescription given to him by his physician. The Democratic-Republican Party was now split, 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 third in the electoral vote, behind Battle of New Orleans hero Andrew Jackson and Secretary of State John Quincy Adams. He thus was still in the nominal running when the Presidential election ended up in the House of Representatives because the Twelfth Amendment allows the House to choose one of the top three candidates. His stroke ended whatever chance he had of winning.

Later life

Refusing Adams's request for him to remain at the Treasury, Crawford then returned to Georgia, where he was appointed as a state superior court judge. Crawford remained an active judge until his death, a decade later.

Crawford was nominated for vice president by the Georgia legislature in 1828 but withdrew after support from other states was not forthcoming. Crawford also considered running for vice president in 1832 but decided against it, in favor of Martin Van Buren. Crawford also considered running for president again in 1832 but dropped the idea when Jackson decided to seek a second term.

Crawford is buried at the site of his home, about half a mile west of the current Crawford city limit.

Societies

During the 1820s, Crawford was a member of the prestigious society Columbian Institute for the Promotion of Arts and Sciences, which had among its members former Presidents Andrew Jackson and John Quincy Adams.

Crawford also served as a Vice President in the American Colonization Society from its formation in 1817 to his death.

Family

Crawford was a descendent of John Crawford (1600–1676), who had come to Virginia in 1643 but participated and died in Bacon’s Rebellion. John’s son David Crawford, I (1625–1698), was the father of David Crawford, II (1662–1762), and the grandfather of David Crawford, III (1697–1766). David Crawford, III, married Ann Anderson in 1727 and had 13 children, including Joel Crawford (1736–1788).

His cousin George W. Crawford served as Secretary of War under President Zachary Taylor.

Legacy

Crawford depicted on United States fractional currency

In 1875, Crawford appeared on the 50 cent bill.

The following places are named in his honor:

Cities and towns

• Crawford, Georgia
• Crawfordville, Georgia
• Crawfordsville, Indiana

Counties

• Crawford County, Arkansas
• Crawford County, Georgia
• Crawford County, Illinois
• Crawford County, Indiana
• Crawford County, Iowa
• Crawford County, Michigan
• Crawford County, Missouri
• Crawford County, Wisconsin

Sources

• Garraty, John A. and Mark C. Carnes. American National Biography, vol. 5, "Crawford, William Harris". New York : Oxford University Press, 1999.
• Mooney, Chase C. William H. Crawford, 1772-1834. Lexington, KY : University Press of Kentucky, 1974
• Shipp, J.E.D. Giant Days or The Life and Times of William H. Crawford. Americus, GA : Southern Printers, 1909

External links

• William Harris Crawford papers(Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA)

• United States Congress. "William H. Crawford (id: C000895)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• William Harris Crawford Collection from the Georgia Historical Society
• Troup-Clarke Political Feud historical marker