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George H. Yeaman

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George H Yeaman
U.S. Ambassador to Denmark
In office
November 20, 1865 – November 7, 1870
PresidentAndrew Johnson
Ulysses S. Grant
Preceded bySamuel J. Kirkwood
Succeeded byChristopher Columbus Andrews
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Kentucky's 2nd district
In office
December 1, 1862 – March 4, 1865
Preceded byJames S. Jackson
Succeeded byBurwell C. Ritter
Member of the Kentucky House of Representatives
In office
1861
Personal details
BornGeorge Helm Yeaman
(1829-11-01)November 1, 1829
Hardin County, Kentucky, U.S.
DiedFebruary 23, 1908(1908-02-23) (aged 78)
Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S.
PartyUnion Democratic

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

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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 as a member of the Kentucky House of Representatives in 1861.

Career

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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 U.S. 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 at Hillside Cemetery in Madison, New Jersey.

Yeaman was an enslaver.[3]

In film

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

References

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  1. ↑ Eblen, Tom (January 20, 2013). "In 'Lincoln,' forgotten Kentucky congressman plays a pivotal role". Lexington Herald-Leader. Kentucky.com. Retrieved October 6, 2019.
  2. ↑ Craig, Berry (January 29, 2015). "How four Kentucky congressmen helped end slavery". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved October 6, 2019.
  3. ↑ 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". Washington Post. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
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  • Wikimedia Commons logo Media related to George Helm Yeaman at Wikimedia Commons

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Federal government of the United States.

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