WASHBURNE, ELIHU BENJAMIN , American statesman, born in Livermore, Me., Sept. 23, 1816. He was one of seven brothers, of whom four sat in Congress from as many different States. He graduated at the Harvard Law school in 1839, and was soon afterwards admitted to the bar. In 1840 he removed to Galena, Ill. He was elected to Congress in 1852, where, first as a Whig and afterwards as a Republican, he represented his district continuously until 1869, taking a prominent part in debate, and earning the name "watch-dog of the Treasury" by his consistent and vigorous opposition to extravagant and unwise appropriations. He contributed much
to aid General Grant during the Civil War, and the latter on becoming president made Washburne secretary of State. On account of ill-health, however, he served only 12 days, and was then appointed minister to France. In 1877 he retired and died in Chicago, Ill., Oct. 22, 1887. He published Recollections of a Minister to France (1887), and The Edwards Papers (1884).
See Gaillard Hunt, Israel, Elihu and Cadwallader Washburne (1925).