George Caldwell (politician)

George Alfred Caldwell
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Kentucky's 4th district
In office March 4, 1843 – March 3, 1845
In office March 4, 1849 – March 3, 1851
Member of the Kentucky House of Representatives
In office 1839–1840
Personal details
Born	(1814-10-18)October 18, 1814 Columbia, Kentucky, U.S.
Died	September 17, 1866(1866-09-17) (aged 51) Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
Resting place	Cave Hill Cemetery Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
Relations	Isaac Caldwell (brother)
Military career
Allegiance	United States
Years of service	June 26, 1846 – August 25, 1848
Rank	Lieutenant colonel
Unit	Voltigeurs Regiment
Battles/wars	Mexican–American War Battle of Chapultepec

George Alfred Caldwell (October 18, 1814 – September 17, 1866) was a United States representative from Kentucky's 4th Congressional district from 1843 to 1845 and 1849 to 1851. He also served in the Kentucky House of Representatives from 1839 to 1840.

Early life[edit]

George Caldwell was born in Columbia, Kentucky, where he attended the common schools. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1837 and commenced practice in Adair County, Kentucky.

Career[edit]

Caldwell was a member of the Kentucky House of Representatives in 1839 and 1840. He was elected as a Democrat to the Twenty-eighth Congress (March 4, 1843 – March 3, 1845). During his term, he served as chairman, Committee on Expenditures in the Department of the Treasury (Twenty-eighth Congress).

At the outbreak of the Mexican–American War, Caldwell was commissioned major and quartermaster of volunteers on June 26, 1846. He was promoted on several occasions including to Major of Infantry March 3, 1847,^{[citation needed]} and Major of Voltigeurs^[1] on April 9, 1847. He was made a brevetted lieutenant colonel September 13, 1847, for service in the Battle of Chapultepec, Mexico and honorably mustered out August 25, 1848.

Caldwell was elected to the Thirty-first Congress (March 4, 1849 – March 3, 1851) where he again served the chairman, Committee on Expenditures in the Department of the Treasury (Thirty-first Congress). He was not a candidate for reelection to the Thirty-second Congress.

After leaving Congress, he resumed the practice of law in Louisville, Kentucky with his brother Isaac Caldwell.^[2] He was a delegate to the Union National Convention at Philadelphia in 1866.

Personal life[edit]

Caldwell died in Louisville, Kentucky, on September 17, 1866.^[1] He was buried in Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville.^[3]

References[edit]

• United States Congress. "George Caldwell (id: C000031)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Allen, William B. (1872). A History of Kentucky: Embracing Gleanings, Reminiscences, Antiquities, Natural Curiosities, Statistics, and Biographical Sketches of Pioneers, Soldiers, Jurists, Lawyers, Statesmen, Divines, Mechanics, Farmers, Merchants, and Other Leading Men, of All Occupations and Pursuits. Bradley & Gilbert. pp. 281. Retrieved November 10, 2008.