Albert Smith White (October 24, 1803 – September 4, 1864) was an 18th Century American lawyer, politician, and jurist who served as a United States senator from Indiana, a United States representative from Indiana and a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Indiana.

Albert S. White
Portrait, c. 1855–1865
Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Indiana
In office
January 18, 1864 – September 4, 1864
Appointed byAbraham Lincoln
Preceded byCaleb Blood Smith
Succeeded byDavid McDonald
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Indiana's 8th district
In office
March 4, 1861 – March 3, 1863
Preceded byJames Wilson
Succeeded byGodlove Stein Orth
United States Senator
from Indiana
In office
March 4, 1839 – March 3, 1845
Preceded byJohn Tipton
Succeeded byJesse D. Bright
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Indiana's 7th district
In office
March 4, 1837 – March 3, 1839
Preceded byEdward A. Hannegan
Succeeded byTilghman Howard
Personal details
Born
Albert Smith White

(1803-10-24)October 24, 1803
Blooming Grove, New York, US
DiedSeptember 4, 1864(1864-09-04) (aged 60)
Stockwell, Indiana, US
Resting placeGreenbush Cemetery
Lafayette, Indiana, US
Political partyWhig (until 1854)
Republican (from 1854)
EducationUnion College
read law

Education and career

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Born on October 24, 1803, in Blooming Grove, New York,[1] White graduated from Union College in 1822 and read law in 1825.[1] He was admitted to the bar and entered private practice in New York from 1825 and 1829.[1] He continued private practice in Lafayette, Indiana, from 1829 to 1836.[1] He was an assistant clerk for the Indiana House of Representatives from 1830 to 1831.[1] He was a candidate for the United States House of Representatives from Indiana in 1832.[1] He was clerk of the Indiana House of Representatives from 1832 to 1835.[1] He was a Presidential Elector on the Whig ticket in 1836.[2]

Congressional service

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White was elected as a Whig from Indiana's 7th congressional district to the United States House of Representatives of the 25th United States Congress, serving from March 4, 1837, to March 3, 1839.[2] He was not a candidate for renomination in 1838.[2] He was elected as a Whig to the United States Senate and served from March 4, 1839, to March 3, 1845.[2] He declined to be a candidate for reelection.[2] He was chairman of the United States Senate Committee to Audit and Control the Contingent Expenses in the 27th United States Congress and chairman of the United States Senate Committee on Indian Affairs in the 27th and 28th United States Congresses.[2]

Later career

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Following his departure from the Senate, White resumed private practice in Stockwell, Indiana, from 1845 to 1861,[1] also serving as president of several railroads during that time period,[2] including the Indianapolis and La Fayette Railroad and the Wabash and Western Railway.[3]

Subsequent congressional service

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White was elected as a Republican from Indiana's 8th congressional district to the United States House of Representatives of the 37th United States Congress, serving from March 4, 1861, to March 3, 1863.[2] He was not a candidate for renomination in 1862.[2] He was appointed by President Lincoln as one of three commissioners to adjust the claims of citizens of Minnesota and the Dakota Territory against the United States Government for Indian depredations, relating to a Sioux Indian Massacre occurring in 1862.[2][1]

Federal judicial service

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White was nominated by President Abraham Lincoln on January 14, 1864, to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Indiana vacated by Judge Caleb Blood Smith.[1] He was confirmed by the United States Senate on January 18, 1864, and received his commission the same day.[1]

Death and burial

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He died on September 4, 1864, seven and a half months after his appointment.[1] He was interred in Greenbush Cemetery in Lafayette.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "White, Albert Smith". fjc.gov. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k United States Congress. "Albert Smith White (id: W000351)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
  3. ^ "Albert Smith White". Indiana GenWeb. Retrieved 28 July 2012. cites original source as: Towne Memorial Fund (1864–1871). Memorial Biographies of The New England Historic Genealogical Society. Vol. VI (1905 reprint ed.). Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society. p. 32.

Sources

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U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Indiana's 7th congressional district

1837–1839
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Indiana's 8th congressional district

1861–1863
Succeeded by
U.S. Senate
Preceded by U.S. senator (Class 1) from Indiana
1839–1845
Served alongside: Oliver H. Smith and Edward A. Hannegan
Succeeded by
Legal offices
Preceded by Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Indiana
1864
Succeeded by