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Sherman (JOHN American statesman born)

JOHN, American statesman; born in Lancaster, O., May 10, 1823; brother of Gen. William T. Sherman; was admitted to the bar in 1844; served as a delegate to the National Whig conventions of 1848 and 1852; and was a member of Congress in 1855-1861. He took a prominent part in the proceedings of the House; was on the Committee of Inquiry sent to Kansas; and joined the movement for the formation of the Republican party. In 1861-1877 he was in the Senate and there was prominently identified with the support of all measures the Electoral Commission. He was Secretary of the Treasury in 1877-1881, and superintended the resumption of specie payments in 1879, after a suspension of in 1881 and continued to hold that office till 1897, when he was appointed Secretary of State by President McKinley. He resigned that office, however, in 1898, on account of failing health. In 1885 he was president of the Senate pro tem., but declined re-election at the end of the 49th Congress. He was a candidate for the presidential nomination in 1884 and 1888.

Among his publications are: "Selected Speeches and Reports on Finance and Taxation" on" (1879) ; and "Recollections of Forty Years in the House, Senate, and Cabinet" (1893). He died in Washington, D. C., Oct. 22, 1900. See SHERMAN ACT.