[William John]. American statesman, born in Clonmel, Ireland, on the 9th of May 1780. He was a son of the preceding, but was a man of more culture and less spleen. He studied law, and as a lawyer achieved a reputation. He was an active supporter of Andrew Jackson, and was selected by him for the position of Secretary of the Treasury. In 1833, foreseeing the probability of a panic that year, he declined to withdraw the United States funds from the United States Bank, lest he precipitate the panic. On account of his refusal, he was removed from office. He afterward devoted himself to the practice of law and published two works of value, Internal Improvements of Pennsylvania and International Law. He died in Philadelphia, PA, on the 26th of September 1865.
