Albert S. White
OfficeJudge of the United States District Court for the District of Indiana
Term startJanuary 18, 1864
Term endSeptember 4, 1864
AppointerAbraham Lincoln
PredecessorCaleb Blood Smith
SuccessorDavid McDonald
State 1Indiana
District 18th
Term start 1March 4, 1861
Term end 1March 3, 1863
Predecessor 1James Wilson
Successor 1Godlove Stein Orth
Jr/sr 2United States Senator
State 2Indiana
Term start 2March 4, 1839
Term end 2March 3, 1845
Predecessor 2John Tipton
Successor 2Jesse D. Bright
State 3Indiana
District 37th
Term start 3March 4, 1837
Term end 3March 3, 1839
Predecessor 3Edward A. Hannegan
Successor 3Tilghman Howard
Birth nameAlbert Smith White
Birth dateOctober 24, 1803
Birth placeBlooming Grove, New York, US
Death dateSeptember 4, 1864 (aged 60)
Death placeStockwell, Indiana, US
Resting placeGreenbush Cemetery
Lafayette, Indiana, US
PartyWhig (until 1854)
Republican (from 1854)
EducationUnion College
read law

Albert Smith White (October 24, 1803 – September 4, 1864) was a 19th-century American lawyer, politician, and jurist who served as a United States senator from Indiana, a United States representative from Indiana and a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Indiana.

Education and career

Born on October 24, 1803, in Blooming Grove, New York,[1] White graduated from Union College in 1822 and read law in 1825.[1] He was admitted to the bar and entered private practice in New York from 1825 and 1829.[1] He continued private practice in Lafayette, Indiana, from 1829 to 1836.[1] He was an assistant clerk for the Indiana House of Representatives from 1830 to 1831.[1] He was a candidate for the United States House of Representatives from Indiana in 1832.[1] He was clerk of the Indiana House of Representatives from 1832 to 1835.[1] He was a Presidential Elector on the Whig ticket in 1836.[2]

Congressional service

White was elected as a Whig from Indiana's 7th congressional district to the United States House of Representatives of the 25th United States Congress, serving from March 4, 1837, to March 3, 1839.[2] He was not a candidate for renomination in 1838.[2] He was elected as a Whig to the United States Senate and served from March 4, 1839, to March 3, 1845.[2] He declined to be a candidate for reelection.[2] He was chairman of the United States Senate Committee to Audit and Control the Contingent Expenses in the 27th United States Congress and chairman of the United States Senate Committee on Indian Affairs in the 27th and 28th United States Congresses.[2]

Later career

Following his departure from the Senate, White resumed private practice in Stockwell, Indiana, from 1845 to 1861,[1] also serving as president of several railroads during that time period,[2] including the Indianapolis and La Fayette Railroad and the Wabash and Western Railway.[3]

Subsequent congressional service

White was elected as a Republican from Indiana's 8th congressional district to the United States House of Representatives of the 37th United States Congress, serving from March 4, 1861, to March 3, 1863.[2] He was not a candidate for renomination in 1862.[2] He was appointed by President Lincoln as one of three commissioners to adjust the claims of citizens of Minnesota and the Dakota Territory against the United States Government for Indian depredations, relating to a Sioux Indian Massacre occurring in 1862.[2][1]

Federal judicial service

White was nominated by President Abraham Lincoln on January 14, 1864, to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Indiana vacated by Judge Caleb Blood Smith.[1] He was confirmed by the United States Senate on January 18, 1864, and received his commission the same day.[1]

Death and burial

He died on September 4, 1864, seven and a half months after his appointment.[1] He was interred in Greenbush Cemetery in Lafayette.[2]

References

  1. ^ "White, Albert Smith". fjc.gov. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
  2. ^
  3. ^ "Albert Smith White". Indiana GenWeb. Retrieved July 28, 2012. cites original source as: Towne Memorial Fund (1864–1871). Memorial Biographies of The New England Historic Genealogical Society. Vol. VI. 1905 reprint ed. Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society. p. 32.

Sources