William H. Crawford

At 62 years old, William H. Crawford physical status not available right now. We will update William H. Crawford's height, weight, eye color, hair color, build, and measurements.

William Harris Crawford (February 24, 1772 – September 15, 1834) was an American politician and judge during the early 19th century.

He served as United States Secretary of War and United States Secretary of the Treasury before running for president in the 1824 election. Born in Virginia, Crawford moved to Georgia at a young age.

After studying law, Crawford won election to the Georgia House of Representatives in 1803.

He aligned with the Democratic-Republican Party and U.S. Senator James Jackson.

In 1807, the Georgia legislature elected Crawford to the United States Senate.

After the death of Vice President George Clinton, Crawford's position as president pro tempore of the Senate made him first in the presidential line of succession from April 1812 to March 1813.

In 1813, President James Madison appointed Crawford as the U.S. minister to France, and Crawford held that post for the remainder of the War of 1812.

After the war, Madison appointed him to the position of Secretary of War.

In October 1816, Madison chose Crawford for the position of Secretary of the Treasury, and Crawford would remain in that office for the remainder of Madison's presidency and for the duration of James Monroe's presidency. Crawford suffered a severe stroke in 1823, but nonetheless sought to succeed Monroe in the 1824 election.

The Democratic-Republican Party splintered into factions as several others also sought the presidency.

No candidate won a majority of the electoral vote, so the United States House of Representatives chose the president in a contingent election.

Under the terms of the Constitution, the House selected from the three candidates who received the most electoral votes, leaving Andrew Jackson, John Quincy Adams, and Crawford in the running.

The House selected Adams, who asked Crawford to remain at Treasury.

Refusing Adams's offer, Crawford accepted appointment to the Georgia state superior court.

He considered running in the 1832 presidential election, either for the presidency or the vice presidency, but ultimately chose not to run.

Early life

Crawford was born on February 24, 1772, in the portion of Amherst County, Virginia, that later became Nelson County, the son of Joel Crawford and Fanny Harris, but at least one source has given his birthplace as Tusculum, a house whose site remains in Amherst County. He moved with his family to Edgefield County, South Carolina, in 1779 and to Columbia County, Georgia, in 1783. Crawford was educated at private schools in Georgia and at Richmond Academy in Augusta. After his father's death, Crawford became the family's main financial provider, and he worked on the Crawford family farm and taught school. He later studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1799 and began to practice in Lexington. Also in 1799, Crawford was appointed by the state legislature to prepare a digest of Georgia's statutes.

Later life

Refusing Adams's request for him to remain at the Treasury, Crawford then returned to Georgia, where he was appointed as a state superior court judge. Crawford remained an active judge until his death, a decade later.

Crawford was nominated for vice president by the Georgia legislature in 1828 but withdrew after support from other states was not forthcoming. Crawford also considered running for vice president in 1832 but decided against it, in favor of Martin Van Buren. Crawford also considered running for president again in 1832 but dropped the idea when Jackson decided to seek a second term.

Crawford is buried at the site of his home, about half a mile west of the current Crawford city limit.

Source