WHITE, HUGH LAWSON (1773-1840). An _American political leader, born in Iredell County, N. C. He served against the Indians in Tennessee in 1792-93, and became private secretary to Gov ernor Blount in the latter year, but soon went to Philadelphia to study. In 1796 he began the practice of law at Knoxville, Tenn. In 1801 he became judge of the Superior Court of Tennessee, and was a member of the State Senate in 1807 and 1809. From 1809 to 1815 he was judge of the Su preme Court, and from 1812 to 1827 was president of the Bank of Tennessee, which for a time was the only bank in the West which did not suspend specie payments. He was again a State Senator in 1817, and from 1821 to 1324 was a commis sioner on the part of the United States to settle disputes growing out of the Spanish occupation of Florida. He succeeded General Jackson in the United States Senate in 1825, and served con tinuously 1840, though offered the Secre taryship of War in 1831. Ile soon became a leader in the Senatc. opposed internal improve ments by the Federal Government, was instru mental in preventing the re-charter of the United States Bank, and in 1829-30 was the author of the bill to remove the Indians west of the Mis sissippi. He was at first a strong supporter
of .Tackson, but by his independent course in favoring the hill to limit executive patronage, and especially by his opposition to Van Ilur(•n's suceession to the Presidency, the friend ship was broken. In I /ctober, 183.5, he was nomi nated for President by the Legislature of Ten nessee, and in spite of President Jaekson's vigor ous personal efforts, carried the State in 1836 by more than 10,000 majority. Ile also carried Georgia and received altogether 26 electoral voles- He refused to vote for the resolution to expunge the Senate resolutions of censure against President Jackson, but was willing to rescind. By 1333 Inc declared himself a Whig. When time Demoeratie Legislature of Tennessee instructed him to vole for the Sub-Treasury Bill, he refused and resigned. Judge White's stern sense of reel tilde earned for him the appellation 'The Cato of the United States.' Consult Scott, Memoir of Hugh White (Philadelphia, 1856).