Encyclopaedia Britannica: Schuyler Colfax | 19th-century, Republican, Speaker of House
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Schuyler Colfax
Schuyler Colfax Jr. was an American journalist, businessman, and politician who served as the 17th vice president of the United States from 1869 to 1873, and prior to that as the 25th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 1863 to 1869. Originally a Whig, then part of the short-lived People's Party of Indiana, and later a Republican, he was the U.S. representative for Indiana's…
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politics · Vice President of the United States from 1869 to 1873 · politician · writer · also Schuyler Colfax, Schuyler Colfax, Jr., Schuyler Colfax Jr., Colfax
Born 23 March 1823 · Died 13 January 1885 · Q310852
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s announcement failed to garner prominent support among Republicans for a presidential bid, as he had planned, while Grant decided to run for a second term. In addition, Liberal Republican interest in Colfax as a possible presidential candidate alienated him from Grant and the regular Republicans. (The Liberal Republicans believed that the Grant administration was corrupt and were against Grant
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2026· 2 entries
Public attention spiked: 7,695 Wikipedia readers in one day, 21× the usual 367, with 0 article edits.
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2023· 1 entry
Yahoo: Life of ardent abolitionist, Schuyler Colfax, will be next topic of 'Insights in History'
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1898· 1 entry
Just a few blocks from the Schuyler Colfax home
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1885· 2 entries
Died 1885-01-13.
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While traveling to a speaking engagement in Iowa
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1875· 1 entry
Became vice president of the Indiana Reaper and Iron Company
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1873· 1 entry
Due to the revelation that he was involved in the Crédit Mobilier scandal
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1872· 2 entries
“for out of this new life of civil and religious liberty will flow peace and happiness, progress and prosperity, with material and national development, and advancement as surely as healthy springs flow from fountains of purity.”
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Had created the possibility of a contested nomination, and Senator Henry Wilson defeated Colfax by 399
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1870· 3 entries
“s announcement failed to garner prominent support among Republicans for a presidential bid, as he had planned, while Grant decided to run for a second term. In addition, Liberal Republican interest in Colfax as a possible presidential candidate alienated him from Grant and the regular Republicans. (The Liberal Republicans believed that the Grant administration was corrupt and were against Grant”
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They had one son, Schuyler Colfax III (1870–1925), who served as mayor of South Bend, Indiana, from 1898 to 1901.
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Colfax announced he would not run for political office in 1872
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1869· 3 entries
The final full day of the 40th Congress, Colfax, who was to be sworn into office as vice president the next day, resigned as speaker
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Career landmark: board member (1869–1873).
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Career landmark: Vice President of the United States (1869–1873).
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1868· 5 entries
Two weeks after winning the vice presidency, he married Ellen (Ella) M
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Colfax had taken a $1,200 (~$23,491 in 2024) gift check for 20 shares of Crédit Mobilier stock from Ames
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For votes favorable to the Union Pacific during the building of the First transcontinental railroad
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From a contractor who supplied envelopes to the federal government while Colfax was chairman of the Committee on Post Offices and Post Roads, and so had influence in the awarding of such contracts
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Had accepted payments of cash and discounted stock from the Union Pacific Railroad in exchange for favorable action during the construction of the transcontinental railroad
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1867· 1 entry
Colfax, along with Senator John Sherman, addressed a Republican meeting in Lebanon, Ohio on the political situation in Washington
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1865· 2 entries
Colfax, along with author Samuel Bowles and Illinois Lieutenant Governor William Bross, set out across the western territories from Mississippi to the California coast to record their experiences
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“presides over the turbulent assembly with a promptness and decision which have a marvellous effect in expediting business.”
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1863· 1 entry
Career landmark: Speaker of the United States House of Representatives (1863–1869).
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1862· 1 entry
Due to strong antiwar sentiments in Indiana, but won a narrow victory over Democrat David Turpie
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1861· 1 entry
Career landmark: board member (1861–1862).
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1855· 2 entries
Career landmark: United States representative (1855–1869).
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Colfax considered joining the Know Nothing Party because of the antislavery plank in its platform
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1854· 2 entries
Colfax was initiated into the Beta Theta Pi fraternity at DePauw University as an honorary member
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Colfax ran for Congress again, this time as nominee of the short-lived Indiana People's Party, an anti-slavery movement which formed to oppose the Kansas–Nebraska Act
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1852· 2 entries
Colfax was a delegate to the Whig National Convention and was selected to serve as a convention secretary
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Colfax's political supporters encouraged him to make a second run for the U
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1851· 1 entry
The IOOF approved the degree and Colfax was credited as its author and founder
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1850· 1 entry
Colfax and members William T
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1845· 1 entry
Colfax purchased the South Bend Free Press and changed its name to the St
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1844· 1 entry
Married his childhood friend Evelyn Clark
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1843· 1 entry
Several South Bend residents formed a debating society in which members researched and discussed current events and other topics of interest, and Colfax became a prominent member
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1842· 1 entry
Colfax became the editor of the pro-Whig South Bend Free Press, owned by John D
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1841· 1 entry
To nearby South Bend, Indiana, after Matthews became St
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1834· 1 entry
And the family moved to New Carlisle, Indiana, where Matthews ran a store that also served as the village post office
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1823· 2 entries
The son of Schuyler Colfax Sr
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Born 1823-03-23.
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1822· 1 entry
Five months before Colfax was born
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