Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1849-08-17

HONORABLE ALBERT GALtATIN.

This distinguished and venerable gentleman died at As
oria Long Island near the city OF New York the 18th
instant the advanced age OF eighty Another and
probably the brightest of the public whom the country
has in short time been called to depore, the death OF
Mr. Gaatn was not unexpected, TOR his health had be-
so feeble that at any time during several years an
announcement Of his decease would have created no
constituent Born in Geneva Switzerland, the 18th OF
January, l76l orphan from his infancy he educa-
ted by distant relations and in 779 was graduated in the
law faculty OF the distinguished university OF his native city
He pupil OF the celebrated historian Muller, and
companion OF Dumont, the friend and literary executor Of
Jeremy Bentham In opposition to the wishes OF his
friends Mr. Gallan, at early age, enigraed to the
United States and landed at Boston, July H. 1880 Re-
commended to the notice Of Dr. franklin by the French
midst Of all that was good and great in the society Of the
country After brief soourn however in Boston, he
proceeded to Maine where he served under the orders
of Col Allan, commander of Fort Machas. Even thus
early in his he enabled prove how sincerely
he attached to the of the country by advances
he made from his private means in season OF want and
difficulty.
In 1882 he became Professor of French at Harvard Uni
versy from which however he removed to Virginia,
and at Richmond was engaged in prosecuting claims of
foreign mercantile house against that commonwealth He
there acquired the friendship of Lee Henry, and other
distinguished men,, and tor q long time meditated
ultimately abandoned, and fixed hmsefin Fayete
ty, Pennsylvania In 1889 he was elected member of
the convention to amend the constitution of the State In
1892 amember of Congress In 1898 he. elected
Senator of the United States but was declared not ent
tied to seat because eligible under the Constitutions
he however, occupied his seat for months. In 1894
Mr. Gaatin returned to Fayee county, having during
his absence married the daughter OF the distinguished
Commodore Nicholson OF the navy of the revolution.
About this time the whisky instruction broke out and
Mr. Gaatin conspicuous among that portion of the
community supporting law and order In October 1885,
he again elected the State Legislature and on the
same day October ID chosen Congress from the
district composed of Washington and Allegheny counties
He took his seat in December, 1885, aud represented the
district for three consecutive On the Inauguration
of Mr. Jefferson as President Mr. Gallan became Sec
rotary of the Treasury This in 1901 The efforts
known and proven by the fact that between 1901 and 1872
under the system commenced by him. $52 O0c of the
500 100000 owed paid In 1918 he was one of the
commissioners to Ghent and while absent from the United
States negotiated the commercial treaty between the
Union and Great Britain.
From 1916 to 1923 he minister to France, and in
1917 went special mission the Netherlands and in
1878 to England, to which country he became minister
penpotentiary in 1926 In 1927 he returned to America
and established himself in New York From this period
he, though deeply nteestedn political matters, never par
ticipated openly in public affairs.
As writer MIR. Gaatin well known His essay
the northeastern boundary, his treatise on Mr. Jaws
map and his works the currency commanded universal
attention Soon after his removal to New York, Mr.
Galatln became president OF the National Bank OF New
York. and increasingly digent in his efforts to pro-
mote the interests OF the commercial community. For
years past Mr. Galatn has contributed much to his
torca and chronological SCIENCE and has finally sunken to
the grave with unblemished reputation man. and with
the highest position as statesman citizen, and scholar.
Alone and unaded, stranger and unknown he exalted
himself to the highest point the laws of his adopted
try permitted, and made his career brilliant commentary
on the perfectess OF American institutions.