Presidential Cabinet Secretary. Born in Utica, New York, he had very little formal schooling, though studied for a short time at the Utica Academy. He became very skilled in the field of journalism while also serving as a canal toll collector in Hamilton, New York, (1854-55). By 1861, he was made an inspector of customs in New York City and received a degree from Hamilton College in 1863. He was appointed the Collector of the Port of New York, in 1870 and was one of the first public officials to advocate for the reform of civil service by appointing positions on the basis of examination and merit. In 1873, President Grant appointed him as the United States Postmaster General and President Hayes reappointed him in 1877. While in office, he made the New York post office a model of efficiency and Europeans attempted to replicate it. He also succeeded in eliminating a huge deficit and reduced the cost of a US stamp from three cents to two cents. In 1881, President Garfield announced his new cabinet, which included James as Postmaster General, but he chose to step down. He later became president of the Lincoln National Bank in 1882, as well as the Lincoln Safe-deposit Company of New York and served on their board of directors. In 1896, he again entered politics again serving as the Mayor of Tenafly, New Jersey. He died at age 85 in New York City.
Presidential Cabinet Secretary. Born in Utica, New York, he had very little formal schooling, though studied for a short time at the Utica Academy. He became very skilled in the field of journalism while also serving as a canal toll collector in Hamilton, New York, (1854-55). By 1861, he was made an inspector of customs in New York City and received a degree from Hamilton College in 1863. He was appointed the Collector of the Port of New York, in 1870 and was one of the first public officials to advocate for the reform of civil service by appointing positions on the basis of examination and merit. In 1873, President Grant appointed him as the United States Postmaster General and President Hayes reappointed him in 1877. While in office, he made the New York post office a model of efficiency and Europeans attempted to replicate it. He also succeeded in eliminating a huge deficit and reduced the cost of a US stamp from three cents to two cents. In 1881, President Garfield announced his new cabinet, which included James as Postmaster General, but he chose to step down. He later became president of the Lincoln National Bank in 1882, as well as the Lincoln Safe-deposit Company of New York and served on their board of directors. In 1896, he again entered politics again serving as the Mayor of Tenafly, New Jersey. He died at age 85 in New York City.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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