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DALLAS, George Mifflin

1792 – 1864

Overview
Biography
Congresses
Bibliography
Research Collections
Library of Congress
US Congress Served
22nd(1831 – 1833)
Senate Years of Service
1831 – 1833
State / Territory
Pennsylvania
Positions
Senator
Vice President
Party
Jacksonian

Overview

US Congress Served
22nd(1831 – 1833)
Senate Years of Service
1831 – 1833
State / Territory
Pennsylvania
Positions
Senator
Vice President
Party
Jacksonian

Biography

DALLAS, George Mifflin, (great-great-granduncle of Claiborne de Borda Pell), a Senator from Pennsylvania and a vice president of the United States; born in Philadelphia, Pa., July 10, 1792; graduated from the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University) in 1810; studied law; admitted to the bar in 1813; private secretary to Albert Gallatin, Minister to Russia; returned in 1814 and commenced the practice of law in New York City; solicitor of the United States Bank 1815-1817; returned to Philadelphia and was appointed deputy attorney general in 1817; mayor of Philadelphia October 21, 1828-April 15, 1829; United States district attorney for the eastern district of Pennsylvania 1829-1831; elected as a Democrat to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Isaac D. Barnard and served from December 13, 1831, to March 3, 1833; declined to be a candidate for reelection in 1832; chairman, Committee on Naval Affairs (Twenty-second Congress); resumed the practice of law; attorney general of Pennsylvania 1833-1835; appointed by President Martin Van Buren as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Russia 1837-1839, when he was recalled at his own request; elected Vice President of the United States on the Democratic ticket in 1844 with James K. Polk and served from March 4, 1845, to March 3, 1849; appointed Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Great Britain by President Franklin Pierce 1856-1861; returned to Philadelphia, and died there December 31, 1864; interment in St. Peter's Churchyard.

Congresses

CongressPositionPartyStateStartDeparture
22
Senator
Jacksonian
Pennsylvania
12/13/1831
03/03/1833

The 22nd United States Congress

Bibliography

Extended Bibliography
Ambacher, Bruce Irwin. "George M. Dallas and the Bank War.'' Pennsylvania History 42 (April 1975): 117-35.
___. "George M. Dallas: Leader of the `Family' Party.'' Ph.D. dissertation, Temple University, 1971.
Belohlavek, John M. "Dallas, The Democracy, and the Bank War of 1832.'' Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography 96 (July 1972): 377-90.
___. George Mifflin Dallas: Jacksonian Patrician. University Park: Pennsylvania State University Press, 1977.
Burt, Struthers. "George Mifflin Dallas [1792-1864]: The Other Vice-President from Princeton.'' In The Lives of Eighteen from Princeton, edited by Willard Thorp, pp. 178-91. 1946. Reprint. Freeport, NY: Books for Libraries Press, 1968.
Dallas, George Mifflin, ed. Life and Writings of Alexander James Dallas. Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott Co., 1871.
Dallas, Julia, ed. A Series of Letters from London Written During the Years 1856, '57, '58, '59, and '60. Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott Co., 1869.
Dallas, Susan, ed. Diary of George Mifflin Dallas, United States Minister to Russia, 1837-1839. 1892. Reprint. New York: Arno Press, 1970.
Nichols, Roy F. "The Library: The Mystery of the Dallas Papers.'' Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography 73 (July 1949): 349-92; (October 1949): 475-517.
___. "The Missing Diaries of George Mifflin Dallas.'' Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography 75 (July 1951): 295-338.

Research Collections

American Philosophical Society

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Papers:
Correspondence in William J. Duane papers, [ca.1760]-[ca.1860]; John Kintzing Kane papers, [ca. 1800]-1892; and Joseph Carson papers, 1810-1877.

Dickinson College Library

Carlisle, Pennsylvania
Papers:
1847. 1 letter.

Henry E. Huntington Library

San Marino, California
Papers:
1847-1859. 45 items. Diplomatic letters addressed to Dallas from the Earl of Clarendon, Lewis Cass, William L. Marcy, and others, largely concerning the Dallas-Clarendon Treaty and Nicaragua.

Historical Society of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Papers:
1791-1880. 1,400 items. Correspondence of Alexander James Dallas and George Mifflin Dallas; letters received by George, 1813-1864; George's manuscript biography of his father, Alexander; a diary, 1848-1849 (photostat) of last months of Polk administration, including an account of Senate politics; and a portrait.
Papers:
1819-1852 (bulk 1819-1831 and 1852). 82 items. Letters written to Samuel D. Ingham chiefly concern financial difficulties, patronage, and running commentary, some in code, on political affairs and personalities in Pennsylvania and the nation. Also a poem, "Twelfth Night Ball'' (1813); and a 2 volume History of the Dallas family, 1262-1894, by Alexander J. Dallas.
Papers:
Correspondence (1830-1835) in George Wolf papers, 1826-1836; Gilpin family papers, 1727-1872; Lewis S. Coryell papers, 1806-1867; James Buchanan papers, 1775-1868; Arthur C. Bining collection, 1787-1908, 1957; and Biddle family papers, 1688-1883.

Library of Congress

Manuscript Division
Washington, District of Columbia
Papers:
3 letters (1833, 1855, 1856); and correspondence in William Chauncy Langdon papers, 1600-1903.

Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Papers:
1817, 1826, 1829-1834, 1843, 1857, 1863. 47 items. Political correspondence and patronage recommendations. Finding aid.

Pierpont Morgan Library

New York, New York
Papers:
1826-1853. 6 items.

Princeton University

Seeley G. Mudd Library
Princeton, New Jersey
Papers:
12 letters and 2 portraits.

Rosenbach Museum and Library

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Papers:
2 resolutions [1845 March and later] presented to Dallas by groups of Philadelphia Democrats; 17 items (1819-1862) chiefly letters received; and 14 items (1822-1865) chiefly letters and certificates from learned societies. Finding aid.

Southern Methodist University

DeGolyer Library
Dallas, Texas
Papers:
1848-1849. 1 volume. Diary.

Temple University Libraries

Rare Book and Manuscript Collections
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Papers:
Ca. 100 to 200 letters (1821-1863) to and from family members concerning political affairs and issues surrounding the Mexican War in Dallas family papers, 1794-1865.

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Papers:
2 diaries (1837-1839 and 1856-1860) while minister to Russia and minister to England; 2 letters (1839-1845, no date); 2 letters (June 8, 1839 and November 17, 1844); and 2 speeches (1845 and no date) upon becoming presiding officer of the Senate and to the Senate.

Washington and Jefferson College

Washington, Pennsylvania
Papers:
Speech and letter.
Research Libraries Information Network:
In addition to the institutions listed above, items are also cataloged in collections at: Cornell University Libraries, Ithaca, NY; Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH; Hagley Museum and Library, Greenville, DE; New York State Library, Albany, NY; Syracuse University, George Arents Research Library, Syracuse, NY; University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library, Ann Arbor, MI; and Yale University Library, New Haven, CT.
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