PENDLETON, GEORGE HUNT (1325-89). An American lawyer, legislator, and civil-service re former, born in Cincinnati, (MM. lie studied law, was admitted to the bar in Ohio, and became distinguished in his profession. He was a mem ber of the State Senate in 1354-55: was elected to Congress in 1356: and served successively in the Thirty-fifth, Thirty-seventh, and Thirty-eighth Congresses, being a member of the House Committee on Military Affairs during the first three terms, and a member of the Ways and Means Committee the last term. fle identified himself with the Anti-War Democrats, and attracted much public criticism on account of the boldness of his antagonism to the course of the Administration. In 1864 he was nomi nated for the Vice-Presideney of the United States on the ticket with General McClellan. Pendleton was one of the most prominent. leaders of the Greenback Party, strongly oppos ing the payment of the Government bonds in gold, and the contraction of the currency. In
1879 he was elected to the United States Senate, where he won distinction as chairman of the COM mittee on Civil-Service 1Zeform. Late in 1382 he introcluced in the Senate the so-called Pendleton Dill for reforming the civil service. This bill passed the Senate on December 27th, and the House on January 1883, and was approved by President Arthur on January 16th. It marks the first definite establishment of the merit sys tem as opposed to the spoils system in the United States.. (See CIVIL-SERVICE 11Eroftm.) At the expiration of his term as States Senator in 1885, he was appointed by President Cleveland Minister to Germany, which post he held until the time of his death, at Brussels, in 1889.