George H. Yeaman Explained

George Helm Yeaman
Office1:U.S. Ambassador to Denmark
Term Start1:November 20, 1865
Term End1:November 7, 1870
President1:Andrew Johnson
Ulysses S. Grant
Preceded1:Samuel J. Kirkwood
Succeeded1:Christopher Columbus Andrews
State2:Kentucky
District2:2nd
Party:Unionist
Term Start2:December 1, 1862
Term End2:March 4, 1865
Preceded2:James S. Jackson
Succeeded2:Burwell C. Ritter
Office3:Member of the Kentucky House of Representatives
Term3:1861
Birth Date:1 November 1829
Birth Place:Hardin County, Kentucky, US
Death Place:Jersey City, New Jersey, US

George Helm Yeaman (November 1, 1829 – February 23, 1908) was an American politician who served as a U.S. Representative from Kentucky from 1862 until 1865, and as U.S. Ambassador to Denmark from 1865 to 1870.

Early life and education

Yeaman was born in Hardin County, Kentucky, the son of Lucretia Sneed (Helm) and Steven Minor Yeaman. Yeaman completed preparatory studies and studied law. He was admitted to the bar in 1852 and commenced practice in Owensboro, Kentucky. He served as judge of Daviess County in 1854, and served as member of the Kentucky House of Representatives in 1861.

Career

Yeaman was elected as a Unionist to the Thirty-seventh Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of James S. Jackson. He was reelected to the Thirty-eighth Congress and served from December 1, 1862, to March 3, 1865. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1864 to the Thirty-ninth Congress. He provided a critical vote for passing the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution abolishing slavery through the US House of Representatives.[1] [2]

Yeaman served as the United States Minister to Denmark from 1865 to 1870. He resigned in 1870 and settled in New York City.He then served as a lecturer on constitutional law at Columbia College. He served as president of the Medico-Legal Society of New York.

Yeaman died in Jersey City, New Jersey, on February 23, 1908. He was interred in Hillside Cemetery, Madison, New Jersey.

Yeaman was a slave owner.[3]

In film

In the 2012 film, Lincoln, Yeaman was played by Michael Stuhlbarg.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Eblen . Tom . In 'Lincoln,' forgotten Kentucky congressman plays a pivotal role . . Kentucky.com . January 20, 2013 . October 6, 2019.
  2. Web site: Craig . Berry . How four Kentucky congressmen helped end slavery . . January 29, 2015 . October 6, 2019.
  3. Web site: Weil . Julie Zauzmer . Blanco . Adrian . Dominguez . Leo . More than 1,800 congressmen once enslaved Black people. This is who they were, and how they shaped the nation. . 2023-02-20 . Washington Post . en.