John White (Kentucky politician)

John White
Portrait by William Gerard Barry, 1911
15th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
In office May 31, 1841 – March 4, 1843
Preceded by	Robert M. T. Hunter
Succeeded by	John W. Jones
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Kentucky
In office March 4, 1835 – March 3, 1845
Preceded by	James Love (9th) Willis Green (6th)
Succeeded by	Richard French (9th) John Preston Martin (6th)
Constituency	9th district (1835–43) 6th district (1843–45)
Member of the Kentucky House of Representatives
In office 1832
Personal details
Born	John D. White (1802-02-14)February 14, 1802 Middlesboro, Kentucky
Died	September 22, 1845(1845-09-22) (aged 43) Richmond, Kentucky
Resting place	Frankfort Cemetery
Political party	Whig
Profession	Lawyer

John D. White (February 14, 1802 – September 22, 1845) was an American lawyer and politician who served as Speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 1841 to 1843. A member of the Whig Party, he represented Kentucky in the United States House of Representatives from 1835 to 1845. He also served as a member of the Kentucky House of Representatives in 1832. White died by suicide in 1845.

Early life, family, and education

John D. White was born on February 14, 1802, in Middlesboro, Kentucky, to Hugh and Catherine White. His father was the owner of Goose Creek Salt Works, which made the Whites particularly wealthy and influential in Kentucky. He was kin to many influential politicians, including Addison White, John Daugherty White, both of whom served in U.S. congress, and Hugh Lawson White, a United States senator from Tennessee. He studied law at Greenville College (now known as Tusculum University) in Tusculum, Tennessee. He was also a student, friend, and fervent admirer of Henry Clay.

Career

White studied law under William Owsley, who served as governor of Kentucky from 1844 to 1848. He was admitted to the bar in 1823, and quickly earned notoriety as a skilled lawyer, earning a substantial amount of clients. Within several years, White had climbed to head of the bar in Kentucky.

White was known as a powerful orator and a convincing speaker. He soon rose to become one of the local leaders of the Whig Party, and was elected to the Kentucky House of Representatives in 1832. In 1835, he was elected a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Kentucky's 9th Congressional district. During his time as a representative, White played an important role in discussions, particularly those in which the topic was tarrifs.

White served during the last several years of the Andrew Jackson administration. He opposed Jackson's fight against the Second Bank, believing it was mainly for personal reasons. He continued to serve during the Martin Van Buren administration, and opposed the sub-treasury act, as well as the plan to annex Texas.

In 1841, White was nominated for speaker of the house. Henry Clay (a friend and supporter of White) helped in uniting House Whigs behind White, as well as gain supporters in both Kentucky and New England. Clay nominated Matthew St. Clair Clarke for clerk, believing that a pairing of White and Clarke would secure the inter-regional alliance Clay was working to build. Whites challenger was Democrat John Winston Jones. When the house assembled, White captured a victory over Jones, receiving 121 votes out of 221 votes cast. He presided over the 27th United States Congress from May 31, 1841, to March 4, 1843.

In the 1842 elections, Whigs lost control of the house. He was re-nominated as speaker, but ended up losing to his Democratic challenger, John W. Jones by a margin of 128 to 59.

On April 23, 1844, a debate was held discussing the merit of charges that had been made against Henry Clay. White, a staunch supporter of Clay, delivered a speech defending Clay. George O. Rathbun, a Democratic congressman from New York, began an argument with White. The argument soon escalated to a brawl between the two congressmen, as other members of the house rushed to try to break up the fight. During the fight, an unknown person fired a pistol into the crowd, wounding a police officer. Both White and Rathbun later apologized for their actions.

On February 8, 1845, White was appointed judge of the nineteenth judicial district of Kentucky. He decided not to run for re-election as a U.S. representative, instead deciding to take on full duties as a judge. He held the role of judge until his death by suicide on September 22, 1845.

Death

During a period of ill health and depression, White shot and killed himself with a pistol. It was thought that he committed suicide because it was discovered that he plagiarized one of the last speeches he gave in office from Aaron Burr. White is buried in the Frankfort Cemetery in Frankfort, Kentucky. Whitesburg, Kentucky is named in his honor.