US Congressman, Business Executive. Born circa 1812, he was an attorney in Madison, Indiana in 1840 when he was elected to the US House of Representatives as a Whig and served one term, 1841 to 1843. He did not run for reelection and moved to New York City. In 1848 he advocated against the Whig nomination of slaveholder Zachary Taylor for President, and was a Delegate to the convention of "Free Soil" Democrats and "Conscience" Whigs that nominated Martin Van Buren. In the 1850s White was President of a company that included his brother David and Cornelius Vanderbilt, which received a contract from the Nicaraguan government to operate steamships and a railroad and construct an Atlantic-Pacific canal. White was also a supporter of William Walker's attempt to overthrow Nicaragua's government. While in Corinto lobbying for an exclusive contract to produce rubber, he was shot by Jonathan Gavitt, who was also attempting to receive permission to produce rubber, and died several days later. Though testimony indicated that Gavitt asked a servant to retrieve his pistol from his hotel room while he sat with White, and that he aimed deliberately, Gavitt claimed it was an accident, and was acquitted.
US Congressman, Business Executive. Born circa 1812, he was an attorney in Madison, Indiana in 1840 when he was elected to the US House of Representatives as a Whig and served one term, 1841 to 1843. He did not run for reelection and moved to New York City. In 1848 he advocated against the Whig nomination of slaveholder Zachary Taylor for President, and was a Delegate to the convention of "Free Soil" Democrats and "Conscience" Whigs that nominated Martin Van Buren. In the 1850s White was President of a company that included his brother David and Cornelius Vanderbilt, which received a contract from the Nicaraguan government to operate steamships and a railroad and construct an Atlantic-Pacific canal. White was also a supporter of William Walker's attempt to overthrow Nicaragua's government. While in Corinto lobbying for an exclusive contract to produce rubber, he was shot by Jonathan Gavitt, who was also attempting to receive permission to produce rubber, and died several days later. Though testimony indicated that Gavitt asked a servant to retrieve his pistol from his hotel room while he sat with White, and that he aimed deliberately, Gavitt claimed it was an accident, and was acquitted.
Bio by: Bill McKern
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