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Louis McLane Biography

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McLANE, Louis (1786-1857). An American statesman, born in Smyrna, Del. He began his career as a midshipman in the navy, but later studied law and entered politics. From 1817 to 1827 he was a Representative in Congress, and strongly opposed slavery. He was a United States Senator from 1827 to 1829, when he was appointed Minister to England. While holding this post he carried on negotiations which resulted in the opening of British West India ports to American trade. He returned from England in 1831 in order to become Secretary of the Treasury in Jackson's cabinet, but in 1833 disapproved of Jackson's order to withdraw the deposits from the United States Bank, and was transferred to the State Department, where he remained one year. He retired from politics in 1834. From 1837 to 1847 he was president of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. In 1845 he was again made Minister to England, but resigned in 1846 after the settlement of the Oregon question. (See OREGON, History.) He was a delegate to the Maryland Constitutional Convention (1850-51). He died at Baltimore.