James Harlan

Biography

James Harlan was an American politician and statesman who served in the United States Senate and held several cabinet positions during the Reconstruction era. Born in Kentucky and raised in Iowa, Harlan became a prominent Republican figure in the mid-19th century, known for his advocacy of education and agricultural development. He served as Secretary of the Interior under President Andrew Johnson and later returned to the Senate, where he championed policies supporting westward expansion and land-grant institutions.