William Alexander Julian (August 6, 1870 – May 29, 1949) served as the 28th Treasurer of the United States from June 1, 1933 to May 29, 1949 under Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman. He remains the last man to have served as Treasurer of the United States.
William Alexander Julian | |
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![]() Julian in 1938 | |
28th Treasurer of the United States | |
In office June 1, 1933 – May 29, 1949 | |
President | Franklin D. Roosevelt Harry S. Truman |
Preceded by | W.O. Woods |
Succeeded by | Georgia Neese Clark |
Personal details | |
Born | August 6, 1870 |
Died | May 29, 1949 Bethesda, Maryland, U.S. | (aged 78)
Political party | Democratic |
Relations | Henry S. Julian (brother) |
Signature | ![]() |
Early life
editJulian was born on August 6, 1870,[1] the son of Alexander and Elizabeth C. (nee Laughlin) Julian.[2][3] His brother was Henry S. Julian.[4] In 1888, Julian graduated from Dodds College in Frankfort, Kentucky.[1]
Career
editJulian settled in Cincinnati, where he first worked as a bank clerk, then as a shoe manufacturer. Building on the success of his shoe business, he went on to a career in bank management. He declined repeated offers of public office, including Woodrow Wilson's offers of seats on the Federal Trade Commission and the Federal Reserve Board. He ran unsuccessfully for U.S. Senator from Ohio in 1920 and retired from business soon afterward.[5] He appeared as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention from Ohio in 1924, 1932, 1940 and 1948.
As the only Treasurer appointed by Roosevelt, Julian was one of the longest-serving Treasurers, although a distant second to Thomas T. Tucker. During his term the government completed its transition away from the gold standard as a basis for currency by passing the Gold Reserve Act of 1934. Under the act, Julian took custody of the gold that had been confiscated under Executive Order 6102 and held at the Federal Reserve Banks.
Death
editOn May 29, 1949, Julian died in a car crash in Bethesda, Maryland.[5][1]
References
edit- ^ a b c "Julian, William Alexander "W. A."". our campaigns.com. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
- ^ "Alexander Julian". geni.com. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
- ^ "Elizabeth C. "Bettie" Laughlin". geni.com. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
- ^ "Long Illness is Fatal to Mrs. Henry S. Julian". Evening Star. February 15, 1937. p. B4. Retrieved November 4, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Julian, U.S. Treasurer, Is Killed In Crash, Schenectady Gazette, May 30, 1949
External links
edit- Media related to William Alexander Julian at Wikimedia Commons