CURTIN, ANDREW GREGG (1817-1894), American political leader, was born at Bellefonte, Centre county (Pa.), on April 2 2, 1817. He graduated from the law department of Dickin son college in 1837 and was admitted to the bar in 1839. Entering politics as a Whig, he was chairman of the Whig State central committee in 1854, and from 1855 to 1858 was secretary of the Commonwealth. In this capacity he was also ex officio the super intendent of common schools, and was instrumental in expanding the free public school system and in establishing State normal schools. Upon the organization of the Republican party, he be came one of its leaders in Pennsylvania, and in Oct., 186o, was chosen governor of the State on its ticket, defeating Henry D.
Foster, the candidate upon whom the Douglas and Breckinridge Democrats and the constitutional Unionists had united.
During the Civil War he was one of the closest advisers of President Lincoln, and one of the most efficient, energetic and patriotic of the "war governors" of the North. Pennsylvania troops were among the first to reach Washington after the presi dent's call, and the State furnished 387,284 officers and men to the Northern armies. One of his wisest acts was the organization of the famous "Pennsylvania Reserves," by means of which the State was always able to fill at once its required quota after each successive call. In equipping and supplying troops he showed great resourcefulness, and his arrangements for caring for the widows and children of Pennsylvania soldiers killed in battle and for the sick and wounded were copied throughout the North. He was re elected governor in 1863 and served until Jan., 1867. He was U.S. minister to Russia from 1869 until 1872. He returned to America and took part in the Liberal Republican revolt against President U. S. Grant. In 1872–i3 he was a member of the State constitutional convention. Later he joined the Democratic party and was a representative in Congress from 1881 to 1887. He died at his birthplace, Bellefonte, Pa. on Oct. 7, See William H. Egle, Life and Times of Andrew Gregg Curtin (Philadelphia, 1896), which contains chapters written by A. K. McClure, Jno. Russell Young, Wayne MacVeagh, Fitz John Porter and others ; and Oberholtzer, Since the Civil War.