Colfax, Schuyler, 1823-1885
Name Entries
person
Colfax, Schuyler, 1823-1885
Computed Name Heading
Name Components
Surname :
Colfax
Forename :
Schuyler
Date :
1823-1885
eng
Latn
authorizedForm
rda
Genders
Male
Exist Dates
Biographical History
Schuyler Colfax Jr. (March 23, 1823 – January 13, 1885) was an American journalist, businessman, and politician who served as the 17th Vice President of the United States from 1869 to 1873, and prior to that as the 25th Speaker of the House of Representatives from 1863 to 1869. Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives for Indiana's 9th congressional district as a member of the anti-slavery Indiana People's Party in 1854, Colfax joined the Republican Party during his first term. He served as U.S. Representative from 1855 to 1869.
Colfax was known for his opposition to slavery while serving in Congress, and was a founder of the Republican Party. During his first term as speaker he led the effort to pass what would become the Thirteenth Amendment abolishing slavery. When it came before the House for a final vote in January 1865, he made the unusual choice to cast a vote (by convention the speaker rarely casts a vote), voting in the affirmative. Chosen as Ulysses S. Grant's running mate in the 1868 election, the pair won easily over Democratic Party nominees Horatio Seymour and Francis Preston Blair Jr. As was typical during the 19th century, Colfax had little involvement in the Grant administration. In addition to his duties as president of the U.S. Senate, he continued to lecture and write for the press while in office. In January 1871, Colfax encouraged a unified Italy to adopt a republican government that protected religious freedom and civil rights of its citizens. Believing Grant would only serve one term, in 1870 Colfax attempted unsuccessfully to garner support for the 1872 Republican presidential nomination by telling friends and supporters he would not seek a second vice presidential term. However, when Grant announced that he would run again, Colfax reversed himself and attempted to win the vice presidential nomination, but was defeated by Henry Wilson.
An 1872–73 Congressional investigation into the Crédit Mobilier scandal identified Colfax as one of several federal government officials who in 1868 accepted payments of cash and discounted stock from the Union Pacific Railroad in exchange for favorable action during the construction of the transcontinental railroad. Though he vociferously defended himself against charges his reputation suffered. Colfax left the vice presidency at the end of his term in March 1873 and never again ran for office. Afterwards he worked as a business executive and became a popular lecturer and speech maker.
Colfax suffered a heart attack and died in a Mankato, Minnesota railroad station on January 13, 1885, en route to a speaking engagement in Iowa. To date, he is one of only two persons to have served as both Speaker of the House and Vice President of the United States; the other is John Nance Garner.
eng
Latn
External Related CPF
https://viaf.org/viaf/23599111
https://www.worldcat.org/identities/lccn-n85335914
https://id.loc.gov/authorities/n85335914
https://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q310852
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Languages Used
eng
Latn
Subjects
American newspapers
American newspapers
Business, Industry, Labor, and Commerce
Chemistry
Chinese
Civil war
Congress
Draft
Economics and Banking
Electricity
Electromagnetism
Steam engines
Exchanges Of Publications
Geology
Heat
Indians of North America
Inventors
Journalists
Lectures and lecturing
Legislators
Legislators
Magnetic Property Of Materials
Magnetism
Meteorology
Military pensions
Mineral industries
Mormons and Mormonism
National Academy of Sciences
Orators
Overland journeys to the Pacific
Politicians
Politicians
Polygamy
President Of United States
Presidents
Quackery Or Pseudo Science
Railroads
Railroads
Railroad travel
Scientific publications
Signatures (Writing)
Smithsonian Board Of Regents
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Publications
Speeches, addresses, etc., American
Standardization
Travelers
Treasury Department
Vice
Vice presidents
Vice presidents
Vice-presidents
Nationalities
Americans
Activities
Occupations
Newspaper editors
Newspaper editors
Newspaper publishers
Politicians
Representatives, U.S. Congress
Speakers of the House, U.S. Congress
Statesmen
Vice presidents
Legal Statuses
Places
New York City
NY, US
AssociatedPlace
Birth
South Bend
IN, US
AssociatedPlace
Residence
Mankato
MN, US
AssociatedPlace
Death
Indianapolis
IN, US
AssociatedPlace
Residence
Convention Declarations
<conventionDeclaration><citation>VIAF</citation></conventionDeclaration>