Albert Gallatin

Abraham Alfonse Albert Gallatin (January 29, 1761–August 12, 1849) was an ethnologist, linguist, American politician, diplomat, and Secretary of the Treasury.

Native American studies

Throughout his public service career, Gallatin pursued an interest in Native American language and culture. He drew upon government contacts in his research, gathering information through Lewis Cass, a Secretary of War, explorer William Clark and Thomas McKenney of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. He developed a personal relationship with Cherokee tribal leader John Ridge, who provided him with information on the vocabulary and structure of the Cherokee language. Gallatin's research resulted in two published works: "A Table of Indian Languages of the United States (1826)" and "Synopsis of the Indian Tribes of North America (1836)." His research led him to conclude that the natives of North and South America were linguistically and culturally related, and that their common ancestors had migrated from Asia in prehistoric times.

Related Topics:
Native American - Lewis Cass - William Clark - Bureau of Indian Affairs - Cherokee - John Ridge

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In 1842, Gallatin joined with John Russell Bartlett to found the American Ethnological Society. Later research efforts include examination of selected Pueblo societies, the Akimel O'odham (Pima) peoples, and the Maricopa of the Southwest. In politics, Gallatin stood for assimilation of Native Americans into European based American society, encouraging federal efforts in education leading to assimilation and denying annuities for Native Americans displaced by western expansion.

Related Topics:
John Russell Bartlett - Pueblo - Pima - Maricopa

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