Crawford, William Harris, 1772-1834
Name Entries
person
Crawford, William Harris, 1772-1834
Computed Name Heading
Name Components
Surname :
Crawford
Forename :
William Harris
Date :
1772-1834
eng
Latn
authorizedForm
rda
Genders
Male
Exist Dates
Biographical History
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 and United States Secretary of the Treasury before running for president in the 1824 election.
Born in Virginia, Crawford moved to Georgia at a young age. After studying law, Crawford won election to the Georgia House of Representatives in 1803. He aligned with the Democratic-Republican Party and U.S. Senator James Jackson. In 1807, the Georgia legislature elected Crawford to the United States Senate. After the death of Vice President George Clinton, Crawford's position as president pro tempore of the Senate made him first in the presidential line of succession from April 1812 to March 1813. In 1813, President James Madison appointed Crawford as the U.S. minister to France, and Crawford held that post for the remainder of the War of 1812. After the war, Madison appointed him to the position of Secretary of War. In October 1816, Madison chose Crawford for the position of Secretary of the Treasury, and Crawford would remain in that office for the remainder of Madison's presidency and for the duration of James Monroe's presidency.
Crawford suffered a severe stroke in 1823, but nonetheless sought to succeed Monroe in the 1824 election. The Democratic-Republican Party splintered into factions as several others also sought the presidency. No candidate won a majority of the electoral vote, so the United States House of Representatives chose the president in a contingent election. Under the terms of the Constitution, the House selected from the three candidates who received the most electoral votes, leaving Andrew Jackson, John Quincy Adams, and Crawford in the running. The House selected Adams, who asked Crawford to remain at Treasury. Refusing Adams's offer, Crawford accepted appointment to the Georgia state superior court. He considered running in the 1832 presidential election, either for the presidency or the vice presidency, but ultimately chose not to run.
eng
Latn
External Related CPF
https://viaf.org/viaf/63320780
https://www.worldcat.org/identities/lccn-n98035207
https://id.loc.gov/authorities/n98035207
https://id.loc.gov/authorities/n84054922
https://catalog.archives.gov/id/10569870
https://viaf.org/viaf/77711013
https://www.worldcat.org/identities/lccn-n84054922
https://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q175877
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Languages Used
eng
Latn
Subjects
United States
Actions and defenses
Executors and administrators
Banks and banking
Cherokee Indians
Cherokee Indians
Complaints (Civil procedure)
Diplomatic and consular service, American
Elections
Estates, (Law)
Governor
Governor
Law
Lawyers
Legislators
National banks (U.S.)
Nullification (States' rights)
Patronage, Political
Politicians
President
Presidents
Public works
Public works
Shipping
Tariff
Transportation
Transportation
Nationalities
Americans
Activities
Occupations
Cabinet officers
Diplomats
Judges
Legislators
Politicians
Public officers
Senators, U.S. Congress
State Representative
Legal Statuses
Places
Lexington
GA, US
AssociatedPlace
Residence
Edgefield County
SC, US
AssociatedPlace
Residence
Columbia County
GA, US
AssociatedPlace
Residence
Milledgeville
GA, US
AssociatedPlace
Residence
Paris
A8, FR
AssociatedPlace
Residence
Louisville
GA, US
AssociatedPlace
Residence
District of Columbia
DC, US
AssociatedPlace
Residence
Nelson County
VA, US
AssociatedPlace
Birth
Oglethorpe County
GA, US
AssociatedPlace
Death
Convention Declarations
<conventionDeclaration><citation>VIAF</citation></conventionDeclaration>