Presidential Cabinet Secretary. Born in England, the son of an American of manufacturing paper mill family, he attended school near London, (1811-16). Moving to the United States, he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1819, studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1822 and practiced law in Philadelphia. Entering politics, he was appointed United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania in 1831 and Solicitor of the United States Treasury in 1837. In 1840, President Van Buren appointed him the 14th Attorney General of the United States, serving until 1841. After leaving office, he was president of the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts (1852-59), vice president and trustee of the Philadelphia Historical Society (1856-58), and a director of Girard College, until his death at age 58. His younger brother William Gilpin was the first Territorial Governor of Colorado.

Presidential Cabinet Secretary. Born in England, the son of an American of manufacturing paper mill family, he attended school near London, (1811-16). Moving to the United States, he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1819, studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1822 and practiced law in Philadelphia. Entering politics, he was appointed United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania in 1831 and Solicitor of the United States Treasury in 1837. In 1840, President Van Buren appointed him the 14th Attorney General of the United States, serving until 1841. After leaving office, he was president of the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts (1852-59), vice president and trustee of the Philadelphia Historical Society (1856-58), and a director of Girard College, until his death at age 58. His younger brother William Gilpin was the first Territorial Governor of Colorado.

Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith