George M. Dallas

George M. Dallas
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Name	George M. Dallas
Order	11th
Office	Vice President of the United States
President	James K. Polk
Term start	March 4, 1845
Term end	March 4, 1849
Predecessor	John Tyler
Successor	Millard Fillmore
Office1	United States Minister to Russia
President1	Martin Van Buren
Term start1	1837
Term end1	1839
Predecessor1	John Randolph of Roanoke
Successor1	Churchill C. Cambreleng
Office2	United States Senator, from Pennsylvania
Term start2	December 13, 1831
Term end2	March 3, 1833
Predecessor2	Isaac D. Barnard
Successor2	Samuel McKean
Office3	23rd Mayor of Philadelphia
Term start3	1829
Term end3	1829
Predecessor3	William Milnor
Successor3	Benjamin W. Richards
Office4	United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
President4	James Monroe
Term start4	1829
Term end4	1831
Predecessor4	Charles J. Ingersoll
Successor4	John M. Read
Birth date	July 10, 1792
Birth place	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Death date	December 31, 1864 (aged 72)
Death place	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Party	Democratic
Spouse	Sophia Chew Nicklin
Alma mater	College of New Jersey (Princeton University)

George M. Dallas was an American politician and diplomat who served as the 11th Vice President of the United States under President James K. Polk. A prominent figure in the Democratic Party, his career spanned roles as Mayor of Philadelphia, United States Senator from Pennsylvania, and United States Attorney. His tenure as vice president was marked by the Mexican–American War and the contentious debates over the expansion of slavery in the United States. Dallas later served as the United States Minister to the United Kingdom during the critical American Civil War period.

Early life and education

Born on July 10, 1792, in Philadelphia, he was the second child of Alexander J. Dallas, a prominent United States Secretary of the Treasury, and Arabella Maria Dallas. He received a classical education at private schools before entering the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University) at age fifteen, graduating with high honors in 1810. He subsequently read law under the guidance of his father and was admitted to the Pennsylvania bar in 1813. His early professional life was spent in Pittsburgh, where he served as private secretary to Albert Gallatin, the United States Secretary of the Treasury, and later as a clerk for the Supreme Court of the United States.

Political career

Dallas's political ascent began upon his return to Philadelphia, where he aligned with the Democratic-Republican Party faction led by Andrew Jackson. He was appointed United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania by President James Monroe in 1829, a role he held concurrently with a brief term as Mayor of Philadelphia. In 1831, the Pennsylvania General Assembly elected him to the United States Senate to fill a vacancy, where he advocated for states' rights and opposed the Second Bank of the United States. After his Senate term, President Martin Van Buren appointed him United States Minister to Russia, where he served from 1837 to 1839, navigating diplomatic relations with Tsar Nicholas I.

Vice presidency (1845–1849)

Elected on the ticket with James K. Polk in 1844, Dallas assumed the vice presidency as the nation plunged into the Mexican–American War. As President of the Senate, he cast the tie-breaking vote in 1846 to pass the Walker tariff, which lowered import duties. His most significant and controversial act was his ardent support for the Oregon Treaty of 1846, which established the border with British North America at the 49th parallel north. This "Fifty-Four Forty or Fight" compromise was unpopular with many expansionists in his own party. He also presided over the Senate during fierce debates on the Wilmot Proviso, which sought to ban slavery in territories acquired from Mexico.

Later career and diplomacy

After leaving office, Dallas remained active in Democratic politics but failed to secure the presidential nomination in 1856. In 1856, President Franklin Pierce appointed him United States Minister to the United Kingdom, a post he held until 1861. His tenure in London was dominated by delicate diplomacy during the secession crisis and the outbreak of the American Civil War. He worked to maintain British neutrality, countering Confederate diplomatic efforts and navigating incidents like the Trent Affair. Upon his return to the United States, he retired from public life, living in Philadelphia.

Personal life and legacy

In 1816, Dallas married Sophia Chew Nicklin, daughter of a prominent Philadelphia family; the couple had eight children. His brother, Commodore Alexander J. Dallas, served in the United States Navy. The city of Dallas, Texas, incorporated in 1856, was named in his honor by its founder, John Neely Bryan. He died on December 31, 1864, and is interred in the Church of St. James the Less cemetery in Philadelphia. His papers are held by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, and his vice-presidential portrait hangs in the United States Senate. Category:1792 births Category:1864 deaths Category:Vice presidents of the United States Category:United States senators from Pennsylvania Category:American diplomats Category:Mayors of Philadelphia