BOUTWELL. BOUTWELL. 6 7 ventions, and at Chicago, in 1S60, was the first of the Massachusetts delegation to abandon Seward, and cast a vote for Abra- ham Lincoln. For five terms of two years each he was elected by the Legislature a state director of the Western (now the Boston & Albany) Railroad. Upon the death of John A. Parker, Mr. Bourne was chosen as his successor in the directory of the Merchants' Bank of New Bedford, and upon the death of Charles R. Tucker, in 1876, was made president of the bank, which position, together with that of presi- dent of the Bristol County Fire Insurance Company, he held until his death, which occurred in New Bedford, August 7, 1889. Mr. Bourne made good use of the limited school advantages he enjoyed in early days, and fitted himself for the practical side of business life in which he held such high rank. His success was due to tireless industry, financial integrity, personal at- tention to details, probity, and to a cour- age tempered by caution. Possessed of strong individuality, quick and self-reliant, he was ever just in his decisions and thoughtful of those connected with him in social and business relations. BOUTWELL, GEORGE S., son of Sewall and Rebecca (Marshall) Boutwell, was born in Brookline, Norfolk county, January 28, 1818. He is a lineal descend- ant of James Boutwell, who immigrated from the neighborhood of London, Eng- land, becoming a " freeman " in Lynn in 1638, and of John Marshall, who arrived in Massachusetts by the ship "Hopewell," 1634, and settled in Boston. Mr. Boutwell's early educational train- ing was received in the public schools. In his thirteenth year he was employed as a clerk in a country store at Lunenburg and remained four years. He subsequently taught school in a country district in the town of Shirley. At eighteen he began the systematic study of law, putting him- self under the tuition of an attorney, and employing all available time in pursuance of his object ; he also re-commenced the study of classics under the direction of l»r, A. B. Bancroft. He was admitted to the Boston bar in 1853. He delivered his first public lecture before the Groton Ly- ceum at the age of nineteen. In 1840 he publicly advocated the election of Van Buren to the presidency. At the age of twenty-one he was chosen a member ot the school board of Groton. In 1841 he was elected a representative to the General Court, and served in the subsequent legislative sessions ot 1842, '43, '44, '47, '48, '49, and '50. Official positions were crowded upon his acceptance. Between 1842 and 1S50 he was railway commissioner, bank commis- sioner, commissioner of Boston Harbor, and a member of special state committees on insanity, and public lands of Maine. He was governor of Massachusetts in 1851 and '52. In 1853 he was made a member of the state board of education, and retained his connection with the board for ten years, and for five years discharged the duties of secretary. From 1S51 to i860 he was one of the overseers of Harvard College. In 1856 he was elected a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences ; and in 1861 a member of the Phi Beta Kappa of Cambridge, and delivered the commence- ment oration in that year. He was a member of the Peace Congress in 1861 ; delegate to the Chicago conventions of i860 and 18S0 ; was elected a delegate to the Baltimore convention of 1S64, but declined the appointment. He organized the department of internal revenue, and served as commissioner until 1863, when he resigned to take his seat in Congress. During the 38th, 39th, and 40th Congresses he served on the judiciary committee and committee on reconstruction, and for a time was chairman of the latter. In 1869 he was appointed secretary of the treasury of the United States, and in the administration of President Grant rendered most valuable service to the nation. He originated the plan of refund- ing the public debt, and began himself the work of refunding, which has been so suc- cessfully pursued by his successors. In 1873 he was elected to the United States Senate in place of the lamented Henry Wilson, and served four years. In 1877 he was appointed commissioner to revise the statutes of the United States, which work was completed in 1878. In 18S0 he was designated by the president as attor- ney to defend the government before the international commission created to dis- pose of claims of citizens of Prance against the United States, and of citizens of the United States against France. The claims against the United States amounted to thirty-five million dollars, only six hundred and twenty-five thousand of which were allowed. His five annual reports of the state board of education are worthy of mention, also his commentary on the school laws of Massachusetts, and his volume on educational topics and institutions. In
