James Whitcomb

James Whitcomb
Posthumous portrait
8th Governor of Indiana
In office December 6, 1843 – December 27, 1848
Lieutenant	Jesse D. Bright Paris C. Dunning
Preceded by	Samuel Bigger
Succeeded by	Paris C. Dunning
Indiana State Senate
In office December 5, 1830 – December 4, 1836
United States Senator from Indiana
In office March 4, 1849 – October 4, 1852
Preceded by	Edward A. Hannegan
Succeeded by	Charles W. Cathcart
Personal details
Born	(1795-12-01)December 1, 1795 Windsor County, Vermont, US
Died	October 4, 1852(1852-10-04) (aged 56) New York City, US
Political party	Democrat
Spouse	Martha Ann Hurst
Relations	Claude Matthews (son-in-law)
Children	Martha Renick Whitcomb
Alma mater	Transylvania University

James Whitcomb (December 1, 1795 – October 4, 1852) was a United States senator and the eighth governor of Indiana. As governor during the Mexican–American War, he oversaw the formation and deployment of the state's levies. He led the movement to replace the state constitution and played an important role at the convention to institute a law that prevented the government from taking loans in response the current fiscal crisis in Indiana. By skillfully guiding the state through its bankruptcy, Whitcomb is usually credited as being one of the most successful of Indiana's governors. He was elected to the United States Senate after his term as governor but died of kidney disease only three years later.