Talk:Albert Gallatin/Archive 1

Cartoon
There's an old cartoon which depicts him saying "Stop de wheels of government"... AnonMoos 22:39, 10 September 2007 (UTC)

Earliest Cabinet Member photographed?
Does anyone have any confrmation of this? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.95.130.135 (talk) 20:50, 27 March 2008 (UTC)


 * I know the above comment re: "earliest cabinet member photographed" is from 2008, but the only other candidate found for earliest photographic image of a Cabinet member is the daguerreotype of John Quincy Adams, of which the original might be 'lost'. The sitting/s apparently taking place in 1843. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:John_Quincy_Adams_1824.jpg, http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/3425492/Hulton-Archive, http://www.whitehousehistory.org/whha_publications/publications_documents/whitehousehistory_16.pdf.  Adams was appointed as James Monroe's Secretary of State in 1817.  Gallatin served as Secretary of the Treasury from 1801-1813.  The known Gallatin photos by Matthew Brady have to pre-date  Gallatin's death in 1849 and seem to be circa 1844/45 (http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2004663958), but the Gallatin images are not firmly dated while the Adams prints can be more accurately dated from his diary entries. http://www.picturehistory.com/product/id/11239  Shearonink (talk) 20:39, 6 July 2010 (UTC)

Confusion
The Early Life section actually seems to cover a long period of his life that is also covered in the next section, with a sudden jump back in time (prefaced by "almost immediately") at the start of that section. 86.144.8.112 (talk) 10:15, 16 February 2010 (UTC)

There is something amiss with the statement that Gallatin traveled from Geneva to Boston on horseback, as such a journey would require a most remarkable horse. Altgeld (talk) 18:35, 16 June 2010 (UTC)


 * Researched the source material and have edited that section to more accurately reflect Gallatin's verified travels May-July 1780. Shearonink (talk) 17:49, 6 July 2010 (UTC)

Two Albert Gallatins
This article appears to conflate two Albert Gallatins. The first paragraph describes a Gallatin who served under Lincoln for 2 days, most of the rest of the article describes the Gallatin who served under Jefferson and Madison. Note the inconsistency of the dates. I'm not at all convinced of the reality of the first Gallatin--a quick Google doesn't reveal him in connection with Lincoln (though Albert Gallatin Edwards shows up). I'm no scholar of Lincoln's administration, but if an appointee had been killed by his wife I think I would have read of it.Bill Harshaw (talk) 17:09, 30 October 2012 (UTC)

Religion ...
A lot of people are debating the religious convictions of the founding fathers and those around them. I was surprised to see his religious affiliation unmentioned. Can anybody shed light on this? --SVTCobra (talk) 04:13, 1 August 2014 (UTC)

Popular fiction
This is an excellent article. With a bit more work it could easily be featured. Paul 23:07, 20 May 2006 (UTC)

10/15/2015 With respect to "In popular culture" section: WTF??? Proyster (talk) 13:56, 15 October 2015 (UTC)
 * Not to be alarmed – it's all fiction and I made that clear. Rjensen (talk) 14:19, 15 October 2015 (UTC)

This is not a related area, but why is Gallatin's infamous "Black Speech" unmentioned at all in this Wikipedia article? — Preceding unsigned comment added by Notyetcontrol (talk • contribs) 21:53, 20 September 2016 (UTC)

yes he called himself Swiss as do the reliable sources
(1) John Austin Stevens Albert Gallatin (1899) Page 14 "Well where on earth are you from then, or what are you?" eagerly asked the inquisitive landlord. “ I am a Swiss," replied Mr . Gallatin.“  (2) "Gallatin, Albert" by Edwin G. Burrows. American National Biography (1999): " was born Abraham Alfonse Albert Gallatin in Geneva, Switzerland."  (3) William Plumb Bacon, Ancestry of Albert Gallatin, Born Geneva, Switzerland, (1916) .books.google.com › books. (4) Nicholas Dungan Gallatin: America's Swiss Founding Father (2010) etc etc.  Rjensen (talk) 11:30, 22 July 2020 (UTC)
 * Gallatin was born in Geneva in a family holding citizenship of the Republic of Geneva (1534-1815) since its beginning (see the Historical Dictionary of Switzerland, Gallatin). He himself held this citizenship: he was « de Genève » (see HDS Albert de Gallatin). He emigrated and became citizen of the United States in 1785 (or 1789 according to some sources, but in any case well before 1815). Thus he cannot be qualified as "American of Swiss descent », since none of his ancestors ever were Swiss. He cannot either be referred to as « Swiss emigrant » as he himself was not Swiss at the time he emigrated (and in fact never became Swiss, contrarily to his assumed declarations).
 * The fact that several ill-informed American books wrongly refer to his birthplace as « Geneva, Switzerland » does not change the historical fact that Geneva was not in Switzerland before 1815. Even himself cannot modify the political history by asserting that he was Swiss. It is certainly interesting that he considered himself to be Swiss, and this definitely is worth mentioning in his article, but it cannot be held as true. Sapphorain (talk) 11:56, 22 July 2020 (UTC)
 * The fact that the leading reliable sources call him Swiss is the standard Wikipedia uses...not the private opinions of one anonymous editor who cites no reliable sources about Gallatin and Switzerland. Rjensen (talk) 20:24, 22 July 2020 (UTC)
 * Who calls Geneva Swiss--scholars do: some examples: 1) Swiss American Historical Society Review. Nov2017, Vol. 53 Issue 3, p45-71; (2) : Spencer, Mark G. Swiss American Historical Society Review. Feb2012, Vol. 48 Issue 1, p40-43. states: "Nicholas Dungan’s Gallatin: America’s Swiss Founding Father...is a welcomed addition to the historiography and one which, highlighting Gallatin’s Swiss origins, readers of this newsletter may be particularly interested to pursue." (3) Swiss American Historical Society Newsletter. 1982, Vol. 18 Issue 1, p12-29.; (4)  Schweizerische Zeitschrift für Geschichte. 2015, Vol. 65 Issue 3, p378-392; (5)  Revue d'Histoire Moderne & Contemporaine. oct-dec2014, Vol. 61 Issue 4, p65-93 (6) . Annali dell'Istituto Storico Italo-Germanico in Trento. 1987, Vol. 13, p353-410.  Rjensen (talk) 21:58, 22 July 2020 (UTC)
 * That Gallatin was not Swiss is in no way my private opinion. You apparently didn’t care to even read the source I provided, so I will give it again.
 * (1) The Gallatin family held citizenship from the Republic of Geneva: see the Historical Dictionary of Switzerland, Gallatin; this takes care of the « Swiss descent »: thus he was not of Swiss descent.
 * (2) Gallatin himself was a citizen of the Republic of Geneva: see HDS Albert de Gallatin. I will add the following:
 * (3) The Republic of Geneva lasted until 1798, then was annexed by France, of which it became a Department until 1813, then it became a sovereign state again (1813-1815). It entered Switzerland in 1815 only (see ): thus he was not Swiss when he emigrated to the USA. As he became American before 1815, he in fact never held the Swiss citizenship.
 * My source is a historical dictionary, written by (real) historians. You provide sources you call « leading reliable sources ». I frankly cannot see why they should be called « leading ». And they are certainly not « reliable »  in this matter, as they contradict historical political facts that are easily verifiable. I incidentally read on your user page that you call yourself a historian. I must admit I am very much puzzled by that that claim.
 * As for your lengthy demonstration that everybody calls Geneva Swiss now it is quite off the point: of course, Geneva is Swiss now. But it was not before 1815 (as for example Texas was not a part of the United States before 1845). Sapphorain (talk) 22:11, 22 July 2020 (UTC)
 * Missing: a RS that states Gallatin was not Swiss. The one very short anonymous entry in a French encyclopedia does NOT say that. Instead I have provided multiple sources that state he was Swiss--such as a New York University Press book in 2010. Rjensen (talk) 03:33, 23 July 2020 (UTC)
 * Missing also: a recent historical work stating that Geneva was part of Switzerland in the eighteenth century. Sapphorain (talk) 07:52, 23 July 2020 (UTC)
 * Historians of Switzerland do indeed include Geneva before 1815: Bonjour, Offler & Potter, Short History of Switzerland (Oxford 1951) pp 221, 232. online here  Also see this: In the 18th century Geneva was "the greatest, wealthiest and most industrious of all the Swiss towns." History of Switzerland, 1499-1914 by Wilhelm  Oechsli, p 277  online here Rjensen (talk) 08:35, 23 July 2020 (UTC)
 * (Concerning the Offer and Potter). I think you are making a confusion between the Republic of Geneva and the Helvetic Republic. One can read on page 221: « The citizens of Geneva were forced to conclude a union with their great neighbor under the menace of French guns » (indeed, the Republic of Geneva was annexed and Geneva became the capital of the French Departement du Léman (1798-1813)). On the other hand the bottom of page 221 concerns the Helvetic Republic (1798-1803) (to whom Geneva never belonged).Sapphorain (talk) 09:00, 23 July 2020 (UTC)
 * Leading scholars of Switzerland include Geneva in their books on the history of Switzerland....one anonymous mathematician thinks they are all wrong??? Rjensen (talk) 01:44, 24 July 2020 (UTC)
 * Of course every complete history of Switzerland will include the history of the different regions constituting Switzerland now, even much before these regions joined Switzerland. I am not thinking the leading scholars (or any scholar) composing such an history are wrong at all in doing so, and I never said so. This includes the history of Geneva (but also of Neuchâtel and of various other territories).
 * Similarly the history of the United States includes naturally the history of Texas, but in the context of events taking place before 1845 does not refer to Texas as a part of United States (it would be anachronistic and absurd, as the United States even refused to accept Texas before that date!) The  Alamo is nevertheless part of the history of the United States, even though Americans (of the United Sates) took no part in it: it was fought by Mexicans of the Mexican Republic and Texians of the Republic of Texas. Sapphorain (talk) 08:24, 24 July 2020 (UTC)
 * private speculation. You have found zero sources that state Gallatin was not Swiss. Rjensen (talk) 08:35, 24 July 2020 (UTC)
 * An enumeration of verifiable facts is not private speculation. As an American historian, you undoubtedly know that what I wrote concerning Texas is true and easily verifiable. That the Republic of Geneva was a sovereign state when Gallatin emigrated is a fact, not private speculation, that this republic was not part of Switzerland before 1815 is a fact, not speculation, that Gallatin himself was a citizen of this republic is a fact, not private speculation. That he is not mentioned in the HDS as being a burgher of any municipality other than Geneva, through which he could also have been Swiss,(*) is a fact, not private speculation.
 * [(*) For a situation of double bourgeoisie (and these are mentioned as a rule in the HDS) see for instance : Pyramus de Candolle became Genevan in 1594, but subsequently also Swiss in 1619 (in fact, he probably lost his Genevan bourgeoisie then; but this is private speculation, so please do as if I didn’t mention it…)].
 * Gallatin is very often mentioned as « Genevois ». But unfortunately, that doesn’t clearly indicate that this was his citizenship. Since you appear not to be content with what the HDS provides, one has to find a source where he is mentioned as « citoyen de Genève » (which appears as difficult as finding one where he would be mentioned as « citoyen de la Suisse »). But we have for instance: William E. Rappard : « Albert Gallatin Citoyen de Genève, Ministre des Etats-Unis » in Bulletin de l’Institut National Genevois tome 42, 1917, p. 527. Another example is this letter from Catherine Pictet to « Monsieur Gallatin, citoyen de Genève, passager sur le vaisseau le Kity, capitaine Lorring » (the letter is at the New York Historical Society Library, but see, on page 12).Sapphorain (talk) 13:07, 24 July 2020 (UTC)

VP nomination?
I plan to look into this when I can find the time, but I'm optimistic (and lazy) enough to hope that someone in the community knows the answer off the top of his or her head: The article states that Gallatin was nominated for vice president in 1824; but if I recall my "civics" correctly, the VP (like the president) is Constitutionally required to be born a US citizen. Since Gallatin was born in Switzerland, how can this be? DoctorJoeE review transgressions/ talk to me!  19:16, 2 October 2015 (UTC)
 * the Constitution allows Gallatin in (citizenship in 1788 is all that's required: "No Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible" ). The problem was he had been forgotten, had no political base of support and had lost interest in politics & had turned to anthropology. Rjensen (talk) 19:36, 2 October 2015 (UTC)
 * But he didn't become a citizen until 1789, yes? According to the biography I happen to have in front of me, "...he emigrated to the United States in 1780, at the age of 19, and under the terms of the Articles of Confederation of 1781, gained legal citizenship after nine years of residency..."  I know I'm picking nits here -- he must have met the requirement or he wouldn't have been nominated, and I'm aware that he withdrew for other reasons -- just curious about the particulars. Thanks for your reply.  DoctorJoeE  review transgressions/ talk to me!  19:57, 2 October 2015 (UTC)
 * The article says "In 1785, he became an American citizen after he swore allegiance to the state of Virginia" which if accurate would deal with the 1788 point while still being consistent with being expelled from the senate after being elected in 1793 because he had not been a citizen for the required nine years prior to election.12:56, 20 February 2022 (UTC) — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2A00:23C6:148A:9B01:8078:6A95:9D09:1B68 (talk)

U.S. Citizenship
The article says Gallatin swore allegiance to Virginia. How does that make him a U.S. Citizen? Cmguy777 (talk) 21:44, 4 July 2022 (UTC)


 * The National Park Service bio on Gallatin says nothing about Gallatin becoming a U.S. Citizen. Cmguy777 (talk) 06:23, 5 July 2022 (UTC)
 * Albert Gallatin NPS
 * Gallatin did take an oath of allegiance to Virginia, although he resided in Pennsylvania. Adam's bio says by the laws of his native country he was considered a minor. I am taking that to mean Geneva. More importantly, Adam's bio said that Gallatin considered himself an American, not that he was, in fact, an American. The Life of Albert Gallatin Henry Adams (1879) page 62. It also sounds as if Gallatin was neutral during the American Revolution. He did not take sides. He was more concerned with his business. Cmguy777 (talk) 22:25, 5 July 2022 (UTC)
 * I think a note would be appropriate in the article concerning Gallatin's citizenship. As far as I know, there was no formal process to obtain U.S. Citizenship in 1785. I am not sure what the Articles of Confederation say on that matter. Gallatin's oath of allegiance should have been to the United States. Cmguy777 (talk) 15:16, 6 July 2022 (UTC)
 * It seems Gallatin's citizenship is in question. The AOC just says states have sovereignty. It says nothing about citizenship. Also, Gallatin swore allegiance to a state he did not live in Virginia. Adams says Gallatin considered himself a U.S. Citizen, but that does not make him one. The NPS does not say Gallatin was a U.S. Citizen. Cmguy777 (talk) 21:39, 10 July 2022 (UTC)
 * Article I, section 2, clause 2 of the United States Constitution states explicitly that one must have "been seven Years a Citizen of the United States" to serve in the United States House of Representatives. Gallatin served in that body as a representative from Pennsylvania from 1795 to 1801. This makes quite clear that Gallatin was a citizen of the United States when he was sworn into an office that required it. Anwegmann (talk) 00:54, 12 July 2022 (UTC)
 * And the Articles of Confederation does, in fact, say something about citizenship. In Article IV, it explicitly establishes that "the free inhabitants of each of these states, paupers, vagabonds and fugitives from Justice excepted, shall be entitled to all privileges and immunities of free citizens in the several states". This is a clear expression of a "blanket citizenship"—and, indeed, the creation of U.S. citizenship itself—connecting citizenship in one state to citizenship in all states (and thus the nation itself). So when Gallatin, under the Articles of Confederation, took an oath of allegiance to Virginia, he became a citizen of every state, and thus the United States as a whole.
 * So, it seems, he became a citizen in 1785, at the very latest. You can also see this in the fact that he was denied a seat in the Senate in 1793 because he had only been a citizen for seven years—two years short of the nine required by the Constitution. See these sources: and . Additionally, here is a pretty good summary of Gallatin's argument that he actually became a citizen with the adoption of the Articles of Confederation in 1781: . Anwegmann (talk) 01:16, 12 July 2022 (UTC)
 * He was denied a Senate Seat in 1793 because he was not a full citizen. The Constitution wiped out the AOC. Also, Gallatin took allegiance to Virginia, a state he did not reside in. He resided in Pennsylvania. There is also some dispute about Geneva, him being a minor. Maybe under Geneva law, he could not expatriate until he turned a certain age. All I am saying is clarification is needed in the article about his citizenship status. Cmguy777 (talk) 16:14, 12 July 2022 (UTC)


 * Gallatin took an oath of allegiance to a state, Virginia, which he did not inhabit. He lived in Pennsylvania in 1785. Also, the AOC says nothing about oaths of allegiance to a state that makes the person a citizen. The IV AOC article had to do with free travel between states. Cmguy777 (talk) 17:23, 13 July 2022 (UTC)
 * That is not a correct reading of Article IV of the Articles of Confederation. Anwegmann (talk) 17:29, 13 July 2022 (UTC)
 * But even if you go by allegiance to a state, he did not live in Virginia. He would have to make allegiance to Pennsylvania, which he did not. He was an inhabitant of Pennsylvania. His citizenship was questioned because he was denied a Senate run. Cmguy777 (talk) 17:34, 14 July 2022 (UTC)


 * He lived in Western Pennsylvania, which was in fact considered Virginia at that time. We don't have any good articles on Wikipedia about that boundary dispute, but Westsylvania, touches on it. Victoria (tk) 19:42, 14 July 2022 (UTC)


 * The Pennsylvania-Virginia dispute was settled in 1780. Was Gallatin's home on the Virginia side? Cmguy777 (talk) 04:58, 17 July 2022 (UTC)