WHITCOMB, James, senator, born near Windsor, Vermont, 1 December, 1795; died in New York city, 4 October, 1852. His father removed to Ohio and settled near Cincinnati when James was quite young. The boy prepared himself to enter Transylvania university, where he maintained himself by teaching during his vacations. On leaving college he entered a law-office, and in 1822 was admitted to the bar of Fayette county, Kentucky, where he practised for two years. He then removed to Bloomington, Indiana, where he soon made a reputation in his profession, and in 1826 was appointed prosecuting attorney of his circuit. In discharging the duties of this office he travelled over a large extent of country, and became acquainted with many men of note. In 1830 and 1833 he was elected to the state senate, where he did much to stay the progress of the "internal improvement" fever that was then at its highest point. In October, 1836, he was appointed a commissioner of the general land-office. He was reappointed by President Van Buren, and continued to serve until the end of the latter's term. Early in 1841 he returned to Indiana and opened a law-office in Terre Haute. Business came quickly, and he soon acquired a lucrative practice. He was nominated for governor in 1843 by the Democrats, and elected by 2,013 majority. In 1846 he was reelected by nearly 4,000 majority. When he entered office Indiana was loaded down with a debt upon which no interest had been paid for years; when he left office the debt had been adjusted, and the public credit was restored. He also, by his efforts, created a public sentiment that demanded the establishment of benevolent and reformatory institutions, and he awakened the people to the importance of establishing common schools and providing a fund for their maintenance. During his term of office he raised five regiments of infantry that represented the state in the Mexican war. The legislature of 1849 ejected him to the United States senate for the full term, beginning in March of that year, but he was unable, owing to feeble health, to discharge his senatorial duties as he wished, and died of a painful disease when he had served little more than half his term. In 1843 he wrote a pamphlet entitled" Facts for the People," which is considered by many one of the most effective arguments against a protective tariff that has ever been written. As a lawyer Governor Whitcomb ranked high. It was his custom in presenting a case to the jury first to give his opponent's side of the question, that he might the easier demolish it afterward. Thomas A. Hendricks said : "Governor Whitcomb . . . declared what he believed to be the truth, and trusted to its influence upon men's minds to bring them into common action. He led legislators because it was safest for them to follow. His manner was grave and serious, his voice was full and musical, and his delivery almost without gesture."