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Lot M. Morrill (1813–1883) was an American statesman who served as Governor of Maine and a United States Senator, before serving in the government of President Ulysses S. Grant as Secretary of the Treasury. After setting up a successful law practice, specializing in work with Maine's legislative committees, Morrill entered politics when he was appointed chairman of the Maine Democratic Party in 1849. He was elected to the state's House of Representatives in 1854 and switched allegiance to the Republican Party in 1856. Morrill was elected a state senator that year, serving as President of the Senate, and was elected governor in 1858. In 1861 he was elected as a U.S. senator and served for 15 years during the American Civil War and subsequent years. He argued strongly against compromise on the principles of slavery, advocating to help pass a bill that freed slaves in Washington, D.C. During the Reconstruction era, Morrill pushed to authorize the U.S. military to protect African Americans. He was popularly received as Treasury Secretary in the American press and Wall Street, as he was known for his financial and political integrity. During his months-long tenure at the Department of the Treasury, from July 1876 to March 1877, Morrill favored the gold standard rather than irredeemable paper currency in the financial debate of the time.
This picture is a portrait engraving of Morrill, produced by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) c. 1902 as part of a BEP presentation album of the first 42 secretaries of the treasury.Engraving credit: Bureau of Engraving and Printing; restored by Andrew Shiva