George Sewall Boutwell is one of those historical figures whose name I
recognized but whose accomplishments I never fully appreciated. I knew of his
association with Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant, and the Radical
Republicans, but I had never taken the time to explore the remarkable breadth
of his public career. After reading Jeffrey Boutwell's Boutwell: Radical
Republican and Champion of Democracy, I came away wondering how a man who
contributed so much to American history could have become so largely
overlooked. He may well be the greatest man I never knew.
George Boutwell's career was extraordinary. Rising from modest beginnings
in Massachusetts, he became the state's youngest governor, helped organize the
Republican Party, and supported Lincoln's presidential candidacy in 1860.
During the Civil War, he became the nation's first Commissioner of Internal
Revenue, helping establish a federal agency essential to financing the war.
Later, as a congressman, he became a leading advocate of emancipation and equal
rights for formerly enslaved Americans.
His contributions during Reconstruction were particularly impressive.
Boutwell helped advance the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments, served as one
of the House managers during the impeachment of President Andrew Johnson, and
consistently defended federal protection of African Americans' civil and
political rights. As Grant's Secretary of the Treasury, he worked to reduce the
national debt, improve the department's administration, and helped thwart the
notorious gold-market scheme of Jay Gould and James Fisk in 1869. Even late in
life, he remained committed to his principles, becoming an outspoken opponent
of American imperialism and the annexation of the Philippines.
Jeffrey Boutwell has done an admirable job bringing this largely
forgotten statesman back into the historical conversation. The research is
extensive, and the book provides a valuable look at the political struggles
that shaped the Civil War, Reconstruction, and the Republican Party. I
particularly appreciated the opportunity to follow Boutwell's career beyond the
familiar Lincoln and Grant years and see how consistently he advocated the
principles of emancipation, equal citizenship, and self-government.
The book does have some shortcomings. At times, the extensive coverage of
political events and personalities overshadows Boutwell himself. I would have
welcomed more insight into his private life, personality, family relationships,
and personal motivations. The author's evident admiration for his subject is
understandable, but a somewhat deeper examination of Boutwell's flaws,
political miscalculations, and contradictions might have produced an even more
balanced portrait. Readers looking for an intimate personal biography may find the
emphasis on political history a little overwhelming.
Nevertheless, these criticisms do not diminish the value of the book.
Boutwell was not a perfect man, but he was a principled public servant who
understood that preserving the Union and abolishing slavery were only the
beginning of the struggle for American democracy. His willingness to defend
civil rights even when public opinion and political circumstances turned
against Reconstruction deserves far greater recognition.
I began this book knowing George Boutwell primarily as a name in the
history books. I finished it with a genuine appreciation for his
accomplishments and a sense that I had discovered an important figure who
deserved to be much better remembered. Jeffrey Boutwell has performed a valuable
service in bringing his relative's life and legacy to a wider audience.
George Sewall Boutwell was, quite simply, the greatest man I never knew.
This book made certain that I will not soon forget him.
About the Author
Jeffrey Boutwell is a writer, historian, and science policy
specialist whose forty-year career spanned journalism, government, and
international scientific research. He lives in Maryland. Jeffrey and George
share a common ancestor, the indentured servant James Boutwell, who emigrated
in 1632 from England to Salem, Massachusetts.
ISBN 978-1324074267, W. W. Norton & Company, © 2025, Hardcover,
368 Pages, Photographs, Illustrations, End Notes & Index.
$39.99. To Purchase the book click HERE.
