Colfax, Schuyler

Colfax, Schuyler (skī`lər kōl`făks), 1823–85, Vice President of the United States (1869–73), b. New York City. He moved in boyhood to Indiana. First a Whig editor, he later helped to organize Indiana's Republican party. He was a member of the House of Representatives (1855–69), serving (1863–69) as speaker. In 1868 he became vice president under Ulysses S. Grant. Colfax was involved in the Crédit Mobilier of America scandal, which ended his political career.

Bibliography

See biography by W. H. Smith (1952).

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Colfax, Schuyler

(born March 23, 1823, New York, N.Y., U.S.—died Jan. 15, 1885, Mankato, Minn.) U.S. politician. He founded the St. Joseph Valley Register, which became one of Indiana's most influential newspapers during his editorship (1845–63). He was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives (1854–69), where he served as speaker (1863–69) and a leader of the Radical Republicans. His vice presidency under Pres. Ulysses S. Grant (1869–73) was marred by his implication in the Crédit Mobilier scandal (1872).

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Colfax, Schuyler (1823–85) vice-president, U.S. representative; born in New York City. He was a newspaperman and U.S. representative (Rep., Ind.; 1855–69). He and Ulysses Grant easily won the 1868 election. He was implicated in the Credit Mobilier scandal in 1872. He defended his receipt of 20 shares of the Credit Mobilier stock, but his reputation was ruined—only the near end of his term prevented a possible impeachment.