William Alexander Julian

William Alexander Julian (August 6, 1870 – May 29, 1949) served as the 28th Treasurer of the United States from June 1, 1933 to May 29, 1949 under Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman. He remains the last man to have served as Treasurer of the United States.

William Alexander Julian
Julian in 1938
28th Treasurer of the United States
In office
June 1, 1933 – May 29, 1949
PresidentFranklin D. Roosevelt
Harry S. Truman
Preceded byW.O. Woods
Succeeded byGeorgia Neese Clark
Personal details
Born(1870-08-06)August 6, 1870
DiedMay 29, 1949(1949-05-29) (aged 78)
Bethesda, Maryland, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
RelationsHenry S. Julian (brother)
Signature

Early life edit

Julian was born on August 6, 1870,[1] the son of Alexander and Elizabeth C. (nee Laughlin) Julian.[2][3] His brother was Henry S. Julian.[4] In 1888, Julian graduated from Dodds College in Frankfort, Kentucky.[1]

Career edit

 
Julian's signature appeared on the 1934 gold certificates, which included the largest currency denomination ever issued by the United States.

Julian settled in Cincinnati, where he first worked as a bank clerk, then as a shoe manufacturer. Building on the success of his shoe business, he went on to a career in bank management. He declined repeated offers of public office, including Woodrow Wilson's offers of seats on the Federal Trade Commission and the Federal Reserve Board. He ran unsuccessfully for U.S. Senator from Ohio in 1920 and retired from business soon afterward.[5] He appeared as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention from Ohio in 1924, 1932, 1940 and 1948.

As the only Treasurer appointed by Roosevelt, Julian was one of the longest-serving Treasurers, although a distant second to Thomas T. Tucker. During his term the government completed its transition away from the gold standard as a basis for currency by passing the Gold Reserve Act of 1934. Under the act, Julian took custody of the gold that had been confiscated under Executive Order 6102 and held at the Federal Reserve Banks.

Death edit

On May 29, 1949, Julian died in a car crash in Bethesda, Maryland.[5][1]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Julian, William Alexander "W. A."". our campaigns.com. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  2. ^ "Alexander Julian". geni.com. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  3. ^ "Elizabeth C. "Bettie" Laughlin". geni.com. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  4. ^ "Long Illness is Fatal to Mrs. Henry S. Julian". Evening Star. February 15, 1937. p. B4. Retrieved November 4, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. 
  5. ^ a b Julian, U.S. Treasurer, Is Killed In Crash, Schenectady Gazette, May 30, 1949

External links edit

Party political offices
Preceded by Democratic nominee for U.S. Senator from Ohio
(Class 3)

1920
Succeeded by
Government offices
Preceded by Treasurer of the United States
1933–1949
Succeeded by