George Mortimer Bibb (October 30, 1776 – April 14, 1859) was an American lawyer and politician and the seventeenth United States Secretary of the Treasury. He was chief justice of the Kentucky Court of Appeals and twice represented Kentucky as a senator in Congress, serving from 1811 to 1814 and from 1829 to 1835.
While a wealthy man, he claimed to have faced significant financial difficulties from losses in the Panic of 1837.[3]
Following the death of his father, the Reverend Richard Bibb Sr., George Bibb advised his brother on how to carry out his father's instructions in his will to emancipate his slaves.[3] George Bibb did so despite his personal pro-slavery views.
Careeredit
In 1811 he was elected to the United States Senate from Kentucky and served until 1814 when he again returned to Lexington to work as a lawyer. He moved to Frankfort, Kentucky in 1816 and sided with the New Court faction in the Old Court-New Court controversy in the 1820s. He was again named Chief Justice of the Kentucky Court of Appeals in 1827, serving for a year.[2]
He was re-elected to the United States Senate in 1829 and served as a Jacksonian Democrat through 1835. During the 21st Congress he was chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Post Office and Post Roads. While in the Senate, he was a strong advocate for pro-slavery views.[3] In 1834, he was the sole Democratic member of the Senate to vote in support of the censure of President Andrew Jackson.[4]
He was in his late sixties when he assumed his Treasury position, dressing "in antique style, with kneebreeches." Bibb's Annual Report on the State of the Finances for 1844 consisted of an elaborate compilation of statistics detailing the financial history of the nation since 1789. In addition, he presented a solid argument for the establishment of a "sinking fund," accumulated through regular deposits and used to pay the interest and principal on the national debt. Bibb advocated using Treasury surplus revenue from customs and internal revenue collection to supply the sinking fund. Such a fund had been used effectively to reduce the deficit from 1789 to 1835, but Bibb was unable to revive it.
He was an active Freemason. He was the first master of Russellville Lodge No. 17, Russellville, Kentucky and was master of Hiram Lodge No. 4, in Frankfort. He was also past master of Lexington Lodge No. 1 at Lexington, and served as secretary in 1804. In 1804 he was grand master of Kentucky.[5]
^"Lacy, Drury". The National Cyclopædia of American Biography. Vol. II. New York: James T. White & Company. 1921. p. 22.
^ abcdAllen, William B. (1872). A History of Kentucky: Embracing Gleanings, Reminiscences, Antiquities, Natural Curiosities, Statistics, and Biographical Sketches of Pioneers, Soldiers, Jurists, Lawyers, Statesmen, Divines, Mechanics, Farmers, Merchants, and Other Leading Men, of All Occupations and Pursuits. Bradley & Gilbert. pp. 258–259. Retrieved November 10, 2008.
^ abcMetzmeier, Kurt X. (2016). "Constructing Freedom: A Letter by George M. Bibb Concerning the Will of the Rev. Richard Bibb Sr". University of Louisville School of Law Legal Studies Research Paper Series No. 2017-5. Rochester, NY. SSRN 2919345.
^"Voteview | Plot Vote: 23rd Congress > Senate > Vote 21". voteview.com. UCLA Social Sciences Division Department of Political Science. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
^Denslow, William R. (1957). 10,000 Famous Freemasons. Columbia, Missouri, USA: Missouri Lodge of Research.
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George Mortimer Bibb October 30 1776 April 14 1859 was an American lawyer and politician and the seventeenth United States Secretary of the Treasury He was chief justice of the Kentucky Court of Appeals and twice represented Kentucky as a senator in Congress serving from 1811 to 1814 and from 1829 to 1835 George Bibb17th United States Secretary of the TreasuryIn office July 4 1844 March 7 1845PresidentJohn TylerJames K PolkPreceded byJohn C SpencerSucceeded byRobert J WalkerUnited States Senatorfrom KentuckyIn office March 4 1829 March 3 1835Preceded byRichard JohnsonSucceeded byJohn J CrittendenIn office March 4 1811 August 23 1814Preceded byHenry ClaySucceeded byGeorge WalkerChief Justice of the Kentucky Court of AppealsIn office 1809In office 1827 1828Personal detailsBornGeorge Mortimer Bibb 1776 10 30 October 30 1776Prince Edward County Virginia U S DiedApril 14 1859 1859 04 14 aged 82 Georgetown Washington D C U S Resting placeFrankfort CemeteryPolitical partyDemocraticSpouseMartha Tabb ScotEducationHampden Sydney CollegeCollege of William and Mary BA Contents 1 Biography 2 Career 3 References 4 External linksBiography editBibb was born in Prince Edward County Virginia graduated from Hampden Sydney College in 1791 1 and later graduated from the College of William amp Mary then studied law He was admitted to the bar and practiced law in Virginia and Lexington Kentucky After making a permanent move to Kentucky Bibb was elected to the Kentucky House of Representatives in 1806 1810 and again in 1817 He was appointed a judge of the Kentucky Court of Appeals in 1808 and then chief justice through 1810 2 While a wealthy man he claimed to have faced significant financial difficulties from losses in the Panic of 1837 3 Following the death of his father the Reverend Richard Bibb Sr George Bibb advised his brother on how to carry out his father s instructions in his will to emancipate his slaves 3 George Bibb did so despite his personal pro slavery views Career editIn 1811 he was elected to the United States Senate from Kentucky and served until 1814 when he again returned to Lexington to work as a lawyer He moved to Frankfort Kentucky in 1816 and sided with the New Court faction in the Old Court New Court controversy in the 1820s He was again named Chief Justice of the Kentucky Court of Appeals in 1827 serving for a year 2 nbsp Bureau of Engraving and Printing portrait of Bibb as Secretary of the Treasury He was re elected to the United States Senate in 1829 and served as a Jacksonian Democrat through 1835 During the 21st Congress he was chairman of the U S Senate Committee on Post Office and Post Roads While in the Senate he was a strong advocate for pro slavery views 3 In 1834 he was the sole Democratic member of the Senate to vote in support of the censure of President Andrew Jackson 4 He was chancellor of the Louisville Chancery Court from 1835 through 1844 and in 1844 became President John Tyler s fourth United States Secretary of the Treasury serving through 1845 2 He was in his late sixties when he assumed his Treasury position dressing in antique style with kneebreeches Bibb s Annual Report on the State of the Finances for 1844 consisted of an elaborate compilation of statistics detailing the financial history of the nation since 1789 In addition he presented a solid argument for the establishment of a sinking fund accumulated through regular deposits and used to pay the interest and principal on the national debt Bibb advocated using Treasury surplus revenue from customs and internal revenue collection to supply the sinking fund Such a fund had been used effectively to reduce the deficit from 1789 to 1835 but Bibb was unable to revive it After this he was a lawyer in Washington D C and an assistant in the U S Attorney General s office 2 He was an active Freemason He was the first master of Russellville Lodge No 17 Russellville Kentucky and was master of Hiram Lodge No 4 in Frankfort He was also past master of Lexington Lodge No 1 at Lexington and served as secretary in 1804 In 1804 he was grand master of Kentucky 5 He died in Georgetown D C in 1859 and is buried in Frankfort Cemetery with a cenotaph at the Congressional Cemetery References edit Lacy Drury The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography Vol II New York James T White amp Company 1921 p 22 a b c d Allen William B 1872 A History of Kentucky Embracing Gleanings Reminiscences Antiquities Natural Curiosities Statistics and Biographical Sketches of Pioneers Soldiers Jurists Lawyers Statesmen Divines Mechanics Farmers Merchants and Other Leading Men of All Occupations and Pursuits Bradley amp Gilbert pp 258 259 Retrieved November 10 2008 a b c Metzmeier Kurt X 2016 Constructing Freedom A Letter by George M Bibb Concerning the Will of the Rev Richard Bibb Sr University of Louisville School of Law Legal Studies Research Paper Series No 2017 5 Rochester NY SSRN 2919345 Voteview Plot Vote 23rd Congress gt Senate gt Vote 21 voteview com UCLA Social Sciences Division Department of Political Science Retrieved June 30 2023 Denslow William R 1957 10 000 Famous Freemasons Columbia Missouri USA Missouri Lodge of Research External links editUnited States Congress George M Bibb id B000433 Biographical Directory of the United States Congress U S SenatePreceded byHenry Clay U S senator Class 2 from Kentucky1811 1814 Served alongside John Pope Jesse Bledsoe Succeeded byGeorge WalkerPreceded byRichard M Johnson U S senator Class 2 from Kentucky1829 1835 Served alongside John Rowan Henry Clay Succeeded byJohn J CrittendenPolitical officesPreceded byJohn C Spencer U S Secretary of the TreasuryServed under John Tyler1844 1845 Succeeded byRobert J WalkerHonorary titlesPreceded byAlexander Campbell Most senior living U S senator Sitting or former November 5 1857 April 14 1859 Succeeded byJohn J Crittenden Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title George M Bibb amp oldid 1164152685, wikipedia, 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