George M. Dallas

George Mifflin Dallas was an American politician and diplomat. He was the 11th vice president of the United States from 1845 to 1849. Before that, he served as the mayor of Philadelphia from 1828 to 1829 and later as the U.S. Minister to the United Kingdom from 1856 to 1861. Some people believe he gave his name to the city of Dallas, Texas.

Dallas was born in Philadelphia, the son of U.S. Treasury Secretary Alexander J. Dallas. He studied law and became a lawyer in 1813. He worked with Albert Gallatin in the Treasury Department and for the Second Bank of the United States. He became a leader in Pennsylvania's Democratic Party.

Dallas served in many important jobs. He was mayor of Philadelphia, U.S. attorney for the U.S. District Court of Pennsylvania, and attorney general of Pennsylvania. He also was in the United States Senate from 1831 to 1833. Later, President Martin Van Buren made him Minister to Russia from 1837 to 1839.

In 1844, Dallas was chosen to be the running mate of James K. Polk. They won the election, and Dallas became vice president. During this time, he supported the idea of expanding the country and letting local areas decide certain laws for themselves. He tried to become president in 1848 but lost support because of a vote he made. He finished his career as the Minister to the United Kingdom before retiring from public service.

Family and early life

George Mifflin Dallas was born on July 10, 1792, in Philadelphia. His father, Alexander James Dallas, came from a family in Kingston, Jamaica, and had important jobs in the government. His mother, Arabella Smith, was born in England.

Dallas grew up in a big house in Philadelphia and also had a home near the Schuylkill River. He went to special schools run by the Quakers and later attended the College of New Jersey, now called Princeton University, where he graduated with top honors in 1810. After college, he learned about laws from his father and became a lawyer in 1813.

Early legal, diplomatic and financial service

After finishing school, George M. Dallas didn’t want to be a lawyer. He wanted to fight in the War of 1812, but his father wouldn’t let him. Instead, he became the private secretary of Albert Gallatin. He traveled to Russia with Gallatin, who was trying to help make peace between Great Britain and the United States. After six months, Dallas was sent to London to see if the war could end through talking.

Later, he went to Washington, D.C. and gave Britain’s peace ideas to leaders there. He was then chosen to help with money matters for the government. With little work in that job, he studied politics, which he loved. He also worked for the Second Bank of the United States. When his father passed away in 1817, Dallas stopped working there and became a lawyer in Philadelphia until 1820.

Political career

After the War of 1812, Pennsylvania had a busy political scene with two groups fighting for control. George M. Dallas led the Philadelphia-based "Family Party," which believed in a strong national government that could create important laws, support trade, and improve the country. The other group was called the "Amalgamators," led by future President James Buchanan.

Dallas was elected mayor of Philadelphia, but he soon grew tired of the job and became the United States Attorney for eastern Pennsylvania. Later, he won a contest to become a Senator from Pennsylvania, serving for about fifteen months. He chose not to run again, partly because of disagreements over a big bank and partly because his wife preferred to stay in Philadelphia. He then worked as a lawyer and later served as an important representative to Russia before returning to his legal practice.

Vice presidency (1845–1849)

George M. Dallas became the 11th vice president of the United States in 1845. He was chosen to replace another candidate who decided not to run. Dallas worked hard during his time as vice president to help reduce tariffs (taxes on goods from other countries) and to expand U.S. lands. He believed strongly in these goals, even though it was difficult for him.

As vice president, Dallas had to help decide when the Senate votes were tied. He did this 30 times during his four years in office. One big moment came in 1846 when the Senate couldn’t agree on a new tariff law. Dallas had to make the final decision. He chose to support the new law, thinking it was fair because many different parts of the country agreed with it. This decision was very important but also caused problems for Dallas back home in Pennsylvania. Even so, Dallas also supported expanding U.S. lands, like taking more land from Mexico and Oregon during a war. He tried to become president in 1848 but faced many challenges because of his earlier decisions.

Post-vice presidency (1849–1864)

In 1856, Franklin Pierce chose Dallas to represent the United States in Great Britain. He worked there from February 4, 1856, until Charles F. Adams took over in May 1861. Dallas handled important issues, like questions about Central America, with care and respect for the United States.

Later, Dallas went back to private life and did not take part in public matters again, except to speak against leaving the United States.

Death

Dallas went back to Philadelphia, where he lived until he passed away from a heart attack on December 31, 1864, at the age of 72. He is buried at St. Peter's Episcopal churchyard in Philadelphia.

Legacy

Several places in the United States are named after George M. Dallas. These include Dallas County, Iowa, Dallas Center, Iowa, Dallas County, Arkansas, Dallas County, Missouri, and Dallas County, Texas.

Other towns and cities named in his honor are Dallas, Texas, Dallas, Georgia, Dallas, North Carolina, Dallas, Oregon, Dallas City, Illinois, and Dallastown, Pennsylvania. Dallas was also a member of the Freemasons and served as the Grand Master in Pennsylvania in 1835.