Albert Smith White

For other people with the same name, see Albert White (disambiguation).

Albert S. White
Portrait, c. 1855–1865
Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Indiana
In office January 18, 1864 – September 4, 1864
Appointed by	Abraham Lincoln
Preceded by	Caleb Blood Smith
Succeeded by	David McDonald
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Indiana's 8th district
In office March 4, 1861 – March 3, 1863
Preceded by	James Wilson
Succeeded by	Godlove Stein Orth
United States Senator from Indiana
In office March 4, 1839 – March 3, 1845
Preceded by	John Tipton
Succeeded by	Jesse D. Bright
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Indiana's 7th district
In office March 4, 1837 – March 3, 1839
Preceded by	Edward A. Hannegan
Succeeded by	Tilghman Howard
Personal details
Born	Albert Smith White (1803-10-24)October 24, 1803 Blooming Grove, New York, US
Died	September 4, 1864(1864-09-04) (aged 60) Stockwell, Indiana, US
Resting place	Greenbush Cemetery Lafayette, Indiana, US
Political party	Whig (until 1854) Republican (from 1854)
Education	Union College read law

Albert Smith White (October 24, 1803 – September 4, 1864) was an 18th Century American lawyer, politician, and jurist who served as a United States senator from Indiana, a United States representative from Indiana and a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Indiana.

Education and career

Born on October 24, 1803, in Blooming Grove, New York, White graduated from Union College in 1822 and read law in 1825. He was admitted to the bar and entered private practice in New York from 1825 and 1829. He continued private practice in Lafayette, Indiana, from 1829 to 1836. He was an assistant clerk for the Indiana House of Representatives from 1830 to 1831. He was a candidate for the United States House of Representatives from Indiana in 1832. He was clerk of the Indiana House of Representatives from 1832 to 1835. He was a Presidential Elector on the Whig ticket in 1836.

Congressional service

White was elected as a Whig from Indiana's 7th congressional district to the United States House of Representatives of the 25th United States Congress, serving from March 4, 1837, to March 3, 1839. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1838. He was elected as a Whig to the United States Senate and served from March 4, 1839, to March 3, 1845. He declined to be a candidate for reelection. He was chairman of the United States Senate Committee to Audit and Control the Contingent Expenses in the 27th United States Congress and chairman of the United States Senate Committee on Indian Affairs in the 27th and 28th United States Congresses.

Later career

Following his departure from the Senate, White resumed private practice in Stockwell, Indiana, from 1845 to 1861, also serving as president of several railroads during that time period, including the Indianapolis and La Fayette Railroad and the Wabash and Western Railway.

Subsequent congressional service

White was elected as a Republican from Indiana's 8th congressional district to the United States House of Representatives of the 37th United States Congress, serving from March 4, 1861, to March 3, 1863. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1862. He was appointed by President Lincoln as one of three commissioners to adjust the claims of citizens of Minnesota and the Dakota Territory against the United States Government for Indian depredations, relating to a Sioux Indian Massacre occurring in 1862.

Federal judicial service

White was nominated by President Abraham Lincoln on January 14, 1864, to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Indiana vacated by Judge Caleb Blood Smith. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on January 18, 1864, and received his commission the same day.

Death and burial

He died on September 4, 1864, seven and a half months after his appointment. He was interred in Greenbush Cemetery in Lafayette.

Sources

• United States Congress. "Albert Smith White (id: W000351)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• "White, Albert Smith". fjc.gov. Retrieved 27 October 2023.