Benjamin Bristow

Benjamin Helm Bristow was the 30th U.S. Treasury Secretary, the first Solicitor General, an American lawyer, a Union military officer, Republican Party politician, reformer, and civil rights advocate. Bristow, during his tenor as Secretary of Treasury, is primarily known for breaking up and prosecuting the Whiskey Ring, a corrupt tax evasion profiteering ring that depleted the national treasury, having President Ulysses S. Grants permission. Additionally, Bristow promoted gold standard currency rather then paper. Bristow was one of Grants most popular Cabinet members among reformers. Bristow supported Grants Resumption of Specie Act of 1875, that helped stabilize the economy during the Panic of 1873. As the United States first solicitor general, Bristow aided President Ulysses S. Grant and Attorney General Amos T. Akermans vigorous and thorough prosecution and destruction of the Ku Klux Klan in the Reconstructed South. Sol. Gen. Bristow advocated African American citizens in Kentucky

Benjamin Helm Bristow was born in Edwards Hall on June 20, 1832 in Elkton, Kentucky. Bristow was the son of Francis M. Bristow and his wife Emily Helm. Francis was a prominent lawyer and Whig member of Congress in 18541855 and 18591861. Edwards Hall was the home of his late grandfather, Benjamin Edwards. Bristow graduated at Jefferson College, Washington, Pennsylvania, in 1851, studied law under his father, and was admitted to the Kentucky bar in 1853. For awhile Bristow worked as a law partner for his father. His father later became a strong antislavery Unionist. His fathers political antislavery and Whig views strongly influenced Bristows own political outlook.

Source: Wikipedia