George M. Dallas

Birth Name: George Mifflin Dallas

Date of Birth: July 10, 1792

Place of Birth: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.

Date of Death: December 31, 1864

Place of Death: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.

Ethnicity: Scottish, English, Cornish

George M. Dallas was an American politician and diplomat. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as Vice President of the United States, from March 4, 1845 to March 4, 1849. He was elected to the position in 1844. He was also Mayor of Philadelphia, from October 21, 1828 to April 15, 1829, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, from April 15, 1829 to December 13, 1831, a U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania, from December 13, 1831 to March 3, 1833, Attorney General of Pennsylvania, from October 14, 1833 to December 1, 1835, U.S. Minister to Russia, from August 6, 1837 to July 29, 1839, and U.S. Minister to the U.K., from April 4, 1856 to May 16, 1861.

Vice President Dallas was the son of Arabella Maria and Alexander James Dallas, a statesman and politician, who was Reporter of Decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court, from 1790 to 1800, U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, from October 6, 1814 to October 21, 1816, and U.S. Secretary of War, from March 2, 1815 to August 1, 1815. His father was born in Kingston, Jamaica. His mother was born in Devon, England. His brother was U.S. Navy Officer Alexander J. Dallas. Vice President Dallas was married to Sophia Dallas, until his death, with whom he had eight children.

Vice President Dallas was the first U.S. President or Vice President to have a parent who was born in Jamaica. Kamala Harris, who has been Vice President, since January 20, 2021, is the second. Both of their fathers had been born in Kingston.

Vice President Dallas’ paternal grandfather was Robert Charles Dallas (the son of James Dallas and Barbara Cockburn). Robert was Scottish. James was the son of George Dallas, and of a woman surnamed Abercromby. Barbara was the daughter of William Cockburn and Jean Clerk.

Vice President Dallas’ paternal grandfather was named Sarah Elizabeth Cormack (the daughter of Col. T. Cormack).

Vice President Dallas’ maternal grandfather was named George Smith.

Vice President Dallas’ maternal grandmother was Arabella Barlow (the daughter of The Rev. William Barlow and Arabella Trevanion). Vice President Dallas’ great-grandmother Arabella was the daughter of Nicholas Trevanion, who was from Veryan, Cornwall, and of Elizabeth.

Sources: Genealogies of George M. Dallas – https://www.geni.com
https://www.findagrave.com