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ELIHU WASHBURNE

Elihu Benjamin Washburne was an American jurist. He was born in 1816 and died in 1887. He was a lawyer in Illinois, Whig Congressman, and afterward Republican Congressman from 1853 to 1869. He was chairman of the Committee of Commerce and of the Impeachment
Committee of 1868. His long service and care of public expenditures earned for him the epithets of 'father of the house' and 'watch-dog of the Treasury'. President Grant appointed him Secretary of State, but he held office for a few days only. From 1869 until 1877 he was US Minister to France. He stayed in Paris through the siege of 1870-1871 and the days of the Commune, and was by the Germans intrusted with the charge of German interests also. His memoirs were published under the title 'Recollections of a Minister to France'.
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