James Guthrie (American politician)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For other persons named James Guthrie, see James Guthrie (disambiguation).

James Guthrie
21st United States Secretary of the Treasury
In office March 7, 1853 – March 6, 1857
Preceded by	Thomas Corwin
Succeeded by	Howell Cobb
Born	December 5, 1792 Nelson County, Kentucky, USA
Died	March 3, 1869 Louisville, Kentucky, USA
Political party	Democratic
Profession	Politician, Lawyer

James Guthrie (December 5, 1792 – March 3, 1869) was an American businessman and politician.

He was born in Nelson County, Kentucky, studied law and worked as a lawyer until 1827 when he was elected to the Kentucky General Assembly. He served in Kentucky's lower house from 1827 to 1829, and in the upper house, the Kentucky Senate, from 1831 to 1840.

Guthrie served as president of Kentucky Constitutional Convention in 1849. He hoped the capitol of Kentucky would move to Louisville and occupy the unfinished courthouse he planned in 1835. The courthouse, began in 1835, sat unfinished for 20 years and was derided as "Gutherie's Folly."

A city leader in Louisville, he invested in railroads, and served as president of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad and the Louisville and Portland Canal Company. He also helped found the consolidated University of Louisville and served as its second president.

Guthrie was appointed the 21st Secretary of the Treasury by President Franklin Pierce in 1853 and served for the entirety for Pierce's term.

He was also a member of the Peace Congress of 1861 held in Washington, D.C. to devise means to prevent the impending civil war.

Guthrie also served in the United States Senate from 1865 through 1868, when he resigned due to ill health. He died the following year in Louisville and was buried in Cave Hill Cemetery.

Guthrie Street in Downtown Louisville is named in his honor.

[edit] External Links

• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• James Guthrie at Find A Grave
• James Guthrie at Famous Americans

Preceded by Thomas Corwin	United States Secretary of the Treasury March 7, 1853–March 6, 1857	Succeeded by Howell Cobb
Preceded by Lazarus W. Powell	United States Senator (Class 2) from Kentucky March 4, 1865 – February 7, 1868 Served alongside: Garrett Davis	Succeeded by Thomas C. McCreery

United States Secretaries of the Treasury

Hamilton • Wolcott • Dexter • Gallatin • Campbell • Dallas • Crawford • Rush • Ingham • McLane • Duane • Taney • Woodbury • Ewing • Forward • Spencer • Bibb • Walker • Meredith • Corwin • Guthrie • Cobb • Thomas • Dix • Chase • Fessenden • McCulloch • Boutwell • Richardson • Bristow • Morrill • Sherman • Windom • Folger • Gresham • McCulloch • Manning • Fairchild • Windom • Foster • Carlisle • Gage • Shaw • Cortelyou • MacVeagh • McAdoo • Glass • Houston • Mellon • Mills • Woodin • Morgenthau • Vinson • Snyder • Humphrey • Anderson • Dillon • Fowler • Barr • Kennedy • Connally • Shultz • Simon • Blumenthal • Miller • Regan • Baker • Brady • Bentsen • Rubin • Summers • O'Neill • Snow • Paulson