Tilden, SAMUEL JONES

Tilden, SAMUEL JONES, American statesman, was born the son of a farmer at New Lebanon, New York, 9th February 1814, studied at the University of New York, and was admitted to the bar in that city, and secured a large and important railway practice. By 1868 he had become the leader of the Democrats in the state, and he strengthened his position by the energy and determination with which he attacked and destroyed Tweed and his fellows (see TAMMANY). In 1874 he was elected governor of New York; in 1876 he was the Democratic candidate for the presidency (for the disputed election, see HAYES), and not only won general admiration, but possibly saved the excited country from something worse than fierce wrangling, by his temperate utterances and unselfish attitude. Twice afterwards his party would have nominated him had he been willing. He died 4th August 1886, leaving great part of his fortune of $6,000,000 to found and endow a free library in New York City. There is a Life by T. P. Cook (1876), and an edition of his writings and speeches by John Bigelow (2 vols. 1885).