| Oliver Wolcott, Jr. | |
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| In office February 3, 1795 – December 31, 1800 |
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| President | George Washington (1795-1797) John Adams (1797-1800) |
| Preceded by | Alexander Hamilton |
| Succeeded by | Samuel Dexter |
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| Born | January 11, 1760 Litchfield, Connecticut, USA |
| Died | June 1, 1833 (aged 73) New York City, New York, USA |
| Political party | Federalist Party |
| Alma mater | Yale University Litchfield Law School |
| Profession | Politician, Lawyer |
| Signature |  |
Oliver Wolcott Jr. (January 11, 1760 – June 1, 1833) was United States Secretary of the Treasury from 1795 to 1800 and governor of Connecticut from 1817 to 1827.
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Youth & Education
He was born in Litchfield, Connecticut, son of Oliver Wolcott, Sr. and Laura Collins Wolcott. He graduated from Yale University in 1778, later studying law at Litchfield Law School and being admitted to the bar in 1781.
Public Service Career
Wolcott was appointed in 1784 as one of the commissioners to mediate claims between the U.S. and the state of Connecticut. After serving as state comptroller of Connecticut from 1788-90, he was named auditor of the federal treasury, and became Comptroller of the Treasury in 1791. He was appointed Secretary of the Treasury by George Washington in 1795 to succeed Alexander Hamilton.
Martha Washington's Escaped Slave
In late May or early June 1796 one of Martha Washington's slaves escaped from the Executive Mansion in Philadelphia, where she lived with the Washington's during his presidency, serving as Martha's chambermaid. As Secretary, Wolcott was George Washington's intermediary in getting the Collector of Customs for Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Joseph Whipple, to capture and send Martha Washington's runaway slave, Oney Judge (sometimes Ona), to Mount Vernon, where she had begun serving the Washingtons[1]. Whipple met with Oney, discussed why she had escaped and tried to ascertain the facts of the case. After she told him she did not desire to be a slave again, Whipple refused to remove Ms Judge against her will, saying that it could cause civil unrest due to abolitionists, and recommended the President go through the courts if needed[2]. In their correspondence, Washington said that he wanted to avoid controversy, so he did not use the courts to take advantage of the method he himself had singed into law under the 1793 Slave Act.[3]. Washington made another attempt to apprehend her in 1798. This time he asked his nephew, Burwell Bassett, Jr to convince her to return or to take her by force [4], but Oney was warned by senator John Langdon and hid.[5]. Wolcott's involvenemt with this case ended with the first attempt to return Oney Judge to slavey. See Edward Lawler, jr for additional information[6].
Achievements
In 1799, as Secretary of the Treasury, he designed the United States Customs Service flag.
Resignation
He resigned in 1800 due to unpopularity, and a particularly vitriolic campaign against him in the press in which, among other things, he was falsely accused of setting fire to the State Department building.
Subsequent Government Service
Wolcott was one of President Adams' so-called "midnight judges", appointed to the second circuit bench almost on the eve of Jefferson's inauguration in 1801.[7]
Private Career
From 1803 to 1815 he operated in private business in New York City, afterwards retiring to Litchfield. He was elected governor in 1817 as a "Toleration Republican", following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, and serving ten years in the post. His tenure was noted for the economic growth and moderate policies that attended it. Additionally, he presided over a convention that created a new state constitution in 1818.
Death
Wolcott died in New York City and is interred at East Cemetery in Litchfield. Wolcott was the last surviving member of the Washington Cabinet.
Town Name
The town of Wolcott, Connecticut was named in honor of Oliver Jr. and his father Oliver.
References
- ^ http://etext.virginia.edu/etcbin/ot2www-washington?specfile=/texts/english/washington/fitzpatrick/search/gw.o2w&act=surround&offset=44096522&tag=Writings+of+Washington,+Vol.+35:+*To+THE+SECRETARY+OF+THE+TREASURY&query=girl+i+mentioned+to+you&id=gw350157
- ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=4YX3czE0SGYC&pg=PA114&lpg=PA114&dq=%22Library+of+congress%22+%22whipple+to+wolcott%22&source=bl&ots=BMx1GNfsQY&sig=J2I6zoxFPstuP11nWcFr7UWIfI0&hl=es&ei=5_X7SvLjONeCkQXqhMiRBQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CAgQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=%22Library%20of%20congress%22%20%22whipple%20to%20wolcott%22&f=false
- ^ http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/etcbin/ot2www-washington?specfile=/texts/english/washington/fitzpatrick/search/gw.o2w&act=surround&offset=44325369&tag=Writings+of+Washington,+Vol.+35:+*To+JOSEPH+WHIPPLE+&query=point+of+sailing&id=gw350210
- ^ http://seacoastnh.com/blackhistory/ona.html
- ^ http://www.ushistory.org/presidentshouse/slaves/oney.htm
- ^ http://www.upenn.edu/gazette/0304/0304pro01.html
- ^ Ferling, John (2004). Adams vs. Jefferson: the tumultuous election of 1800. New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 199. ISBN 0-19-516771-6.
External links
| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by Alexander Hamilton |
United States Secretary of the Treasury Served under: George Washington, John Adams February 3, 1795 – December 31, 1800 |
Succeeded by Samuel Dexter |
| Preceded by John Cotton Smith |
Governor of Connecticut 1817 – 1827 |
Succeeded by Gideon Tomlinson |
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