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(January 29, 1761-August 12, 1849), was born at Geneva, Switzerland, and is one of the most illustrious American statesmen of foreign birth. He was educated at the university of his native city, and emigrated to America in 1780. After varied experiences he settled as a manufacturer in Pennsylvania in 1784. By 1790 he was in the Legislature. His rise to State and national prominence as a leader in the Democratic-Republican party was rapid. He was elected U. S. Senator in 1793, but was not admitted to his seat. The following year he helped by his influence to suppress the Whiskey Insurrection. From 1795 to 1801 he was a member from Pennsylvania of the National House of Representatives, and took a leading part almost from the start, especially on financial topics. When his party came into power with Jefferson, Gallatin was invited to take the Treasury portfolio. He filled this position from 1801 to 1813, and has passed into history as one of the ablest of American financiers. In 1813-14 he was peace commissioner in Europe, where his services in negotiating the Treaty of Ghent were conspicuous. He was U. S. Minister to France 1816-1823, and in 1826 he was sent as Envoy Extraordinary to Great Britain. He was later a bank president in New York City, and died at Astoria on Long Island. Gallatin published various pamphlets on finance, on the Oregon question, on the war with Mexico, " Considerations on the Currency and Banking System of the United States" (1831); he was moreover an ethnologist, and published " Synopsis of the Indian Tribes" (1836) and other works. Biography by Henry Adams, who has also edited his writings.