LEIB, lip, MICHAEL ( 1759-1822 ) . An Ameri can politieian, born in Philadelphia, Pa., of Pennsylvania-Dutch parentage. A Republican of the most radical type. and at first an ardent supporter of Jefferson, he began his political career as a member of the Pennsylvania Leg islature, from which, in 1798, he was trans ferred to Congress. Ile was reelected in 1800 and 1802, and soon attracted atten tion by his extreme views. In 1802 he be came associated with William Duane (q.v.), who, with his journal, the Aurora, was beginning to make things uncomfortable for the Jefferson Ad ministration. In 1803 he opposed the bill for the creation of Louisiana Territory, drawn prob ably by .Jefferson and Madison, as conferring 'royal' power upon the Governor. He was the official mouthpiece of the Duane faction in its successful] fight against the MeKean-Dallas party, the 'quids' as the Aurora called them. and, in spite of great opposition, was triumphantly re turned to Congress in ISO4. On the door of the
House he reechoed the philippics of the Aurora against Gallatin, who had become the special object of Duane's enmity. In 1808 he was elected to the United States Senate, where he continued his hostility to Gallatin and Madison to such an extent as almost to nullify the Ad ministration policy. In l S13. with William Branch Giles (q.v.) and Samuel Smith, he joined the Federalists in refusing to confirm the nom ination of Gallatin to the Russian mission with J. A. Bayard and John Quincy Adams. In Feb ruary, 1814. lie resigned his seat in the Senate to become postmaster at Philadelphia, to which post he had been appointed by Gideon Granger (q.v.), the Postmaster-General. The appoint ment, made in the face of the President's op position. resulted in Granger's dismissal. and legislation which required the confirmation of postmasters in the future.