Langdon Cheves
Encyclopedia
Langdon Cheves (September 17, 1776 – June 26, 1857) was an American politician and a president of the Second Bank of the United States
.
Cheves was born at Rocky River, South Carolina and died in Columbia, South Carolina
. His father, Alexander, was a native of Scotland
; his mother, Mary Langdon, was from Virginia
. At the age of ten he went to Charleston to earn a living, and at sixteen had become confidential clerk in a large mercantile house.
In spite of the advice of his friends, who thought him "born to be a merchant," he began studying law at age 18. In 1797 he was admitted to the bar, and soon became eminent in his profession. Before 1808 his yearly income from his practice exceeded $20,000, making him wealthy for his time.
In 1806 he married Miss Mary Elizabeth Dulles, of Charleston. In 1810 he was elected to congress, along with William Lowndes and John C. Calhoun
, and soon distinguished himself. His speech on the merchants' bonds in 1811 was especially remarkable for its learning and eloquence. Washington Irving
, who was present, said it gave him for the first time an idea of the manner in which the great Greek and Roman orators must have spoken.
Cheves was a zealous supporter of the War of 1812
(a "War Hawk
"); he was chairman of the naval committee in 1812, and of the committee of ways and means in 1813. On January 19, 1814, Cheves succeeded Henry Clay
, who was sent as commissioner to Ghent
, to become the ninth Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
, defeating Felix Grundy
. On December 23, 1814, he became next in line the Presidency upon the death of Elbridge Gerry
for two days until John Gaillard
was appointed President pro tempore of the Senate. This was due to a Vice Presidential vacancy
as well as there was no President pro tempore at the time of Gerry's death.
His most memorable act as Speaker was the defeat of the re-charter of the Bank of the United States. After peace was declared in 1815, he declined re-election, and returned to the Charleston bar. In the following year he was made a judge of the superior court of South Carolina.
In 1816 the national bank was rechartered, but within three years had been nearly ruined by mismanagement. In 1819 Cheves was elected president of its board of directors, and during the next three years succeeded in restoring its credit. In 1822 he resigned this post and was succeeded by Nicholas Biddle. Cheves became chief commissioner of claims under the treaty of Ghent.
After living for a time in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
and afterward in Lancaster, Pennsylvania
, in 1829 returned to South Carolina, and lived in retirement on his plantation for the remaining twenty-eight years of his life. He wrote occasional essays and reviews.
Cheves was an early supporter of the idea of the Southern states seceding from the United States. In the excitement of 1832 he condemned the scheme of nullification as not sufficiently thoroughgoing. He considered it folly for South Carolina
to act alone; but he was strongly in favor of secession, and in 1850, as a delegate to the Nashville convention, he declared himself friendly to the scheme, then first agitated, of a separate southern confederacy. South Carolina would secede from the union eleven years later, in 1861.
The scientist Joseph Le Conte stated in his autobiography that Cheves, long before Charles Darwin
published his Origin of Species, had articulated to him a theory of evolution almost identical to Darwin's. However he failed to publish his ideas.
Second Bank of the United States
The Second Bank of the United States was chartered in 1816, five years after the First Bank of the United States lost its own charter. The Second Bank of the United States was initially headquartered in Carpenters' Hall, Philadelphia, the same as the First Bank, and had branches throughout the...
.
Cheves was born at Rocky River, South Carolina and died in Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
. His father, Alexander, was a native of Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
; his mother, Mary Langdon, was from Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. At the age of ten he went to Charleston to earn a living, and at sixteen had become confidential clerk in a large mercantile house.
In spite of the advice of his friends, who thought him "born to be a merchant," he began studying law at age 18. In 1797 he was admitted to the bar, and soon became eminent in his profession. Before 1808 his yearly income from his practice exceeded $20,000, making him wealthy for his time.
In 1806 he married Miss Mary Elizabeth Dulles, of Charleston. In 1810 he was elected to congress, along with William Lowndes and John C. Calhoun
John C. Calhoun
John Caldwell Calhoun was a leading politician and political theorist from South Carolina during the first half of the 19th century. Calhoun eloquently spoke out on every issue of his day, but often changed positions. Calhoun began his political career as a nationalist, modernizer, and proponent...
, and soon distinguished himself. His speech on the merchants' bonds in 1811 was especially remarkable for its learning and eloquence. Washington Irving
Washington Irving
Washington Irving was an American author, essayist, biographer and historian of the early 19th century. He was best known for his short stories "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and "Rip Van Winkle", both of which appear in his book The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent. His historical works...
, who was present, said it gave him for the first time an idea of the manner in which the great Greek and Roman orators must have spoken.
Cheves was a zealous supporter of the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
(a "War Hawk
War Hawk
War Hawk is a term originally used to describe members of the Twelfth Congress of the United States who advocated waging war against the British in the War of 1812...
"); he was chairman of the naval committee in 1812, and of the committee of ways and means in 1813. On January 19, 1814, Cheves succeeded Henry Clay
Henry Clay
Henry Clay, Sr. , was a lawyer, politician and skilled orator who represented Kentucky separately in both the Senate and in the House of Representatives...
, who was sent as commissioner to Ghent
Ghent
Ghent is a city and a municipality located in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is the capital and biggest city of the East Flanders province. The city started as a settlement at the confluence of the Rivers Scheldt and Lys and in the Middle Ages became one of the largest and richest cities of...
, to become the ninth Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
The Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, or Speaker of the House, is the presiding officer of the United States House of Representatives...
, defeating Felix Grundy
Felix Grundy
Felix Grundy was a U.S. Congressman and U.S. Senator from Tennessee who also served as the 13th Attorney General of the United States.-Biography:...
. On December 23, 1814, he became next in line the Presidency upon the death of Elbridge Gerry
Elbridge Gerry
Elbridge Thomas Gerry was an American statesman and diplomat. As a Democratic-Republican he was selected as the fifth Vice President of the United States , serving under James Madison, until his death a year and a half into his term...
for two days until John Gaillard
John Gaillard
John Gaillard was a U.S. Senator from South Carolina.Gaillard was born in St. Stephen's district, South Carolina on September 5, 1765. He was of Huguenot descent. He was elected to the United States Senate in place of Pierce Butler, who resigned, and served from January 31, 1805 until his death....
was appointed President pro tempore of the Senate. This was due to a Vice Presidential vacancy
Acting Vice President
Acting Vice President of the United States is an unofficial designation that has occasionally been used when the office of Vice President was vacant....
as well as there was no President pro tempore at the time of Gerry's death.
His most memorable act as Speaker was the defeat of the re-charter of the Bank of the United States. After peace was declared in 1815, he declined re-election, and returned to the Charleston bar. In the following year he was made a judge of the superior court of South Carolina.
In 1816 the national bank was rechartered, but within three years had been nearly ruined by mismanagement. In 1819 Cheves was elected president of its board of directors, and during the next three years succeeded in restoring its credit. In 1822 he resigned this post and was succeeded by Nicholas Biddle. Cheves became chief commissioner of claims under the treaty of Ghent.
After living for a time in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
and afterward in Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster is a city in the south-central part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is the county seat of Lancaster County and one of the older inland cities in the United States, . With a population of 59,322, it ranks eighth in population among Pennsylvania's cities...
, in 1829 returned to South Carolina, and lived in retirement on his plantation for the remaining twenty-eight years of his life. He wrote occasional essays and reviews.
Cheves was an early supporter of the idea of the Southern states seceding from the United States. In the excitement of 1832 he condemned the scheme of nullification as not sufficiently thoroughgoing. He considered it folly for South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
to act alone; but he was strongly in favor of secession, and in 1850, as a delegate to the Nashville convention, he declared himself friendly to the scheme, then first agitated, of a separate southern confederacy. South Carolina would secede from the union eleven years later, in 1861.
The scientist Joseph Le Conte stated in his autobiography that Cheves, long before Charles Darwin
Charles Darwin
Charles Robert Darwin FRS was an English naturalist. He established that all species of life have descended over time from common ancestry, and proposed the scientific theory that this branching pattern of evolution resulted from a process that he called natural selection.He published his theory...
published his Origin of Species, had articulated to him a theory of evolution almost identical to Darwin's. However he failed to publish his ideas.