Kendall, Amos, 1789-1869

Dates

• Existence: 1789 - 1869

Biography

Amos Kendall was born on August 16, 1787, in Dunstable, NH. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1811, after which he studied law before moving to Kentucky. In Kentucky he practiced law and became the editor of "The Argus" newspaper. In 1829, he was appointed Auditor of the U.S. Treasury by Andrew Jackson. Considered President Jackson's right hand man, he wrote many of Jackson's state papers, publicizing Jackson's views in his own papers as well as hundreds of others around the country. Kendall also served as Postmaster General from 1835 to 1840. Kendall introduced many reforms to the Postal Service and freed it from debt. In addition, he was the founder and first president of the Deaf and Dumb Asylum in Washington. Kendall died in 1869.