Albert Gallatin
by John Austin Stevens
Albert Gallatin biography by John Austin Stevens. Born to an aristocratic Swiss family, Albert Gallatin (1761-1849) immigrated to America in 1780. Elected to Congress in 1795 and serving until 1801, Gallatin fought constantly with the independent minded first Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton. He was responsible for the law of 1801 requiring an annual report by the Secretary of the Treasury, and he submitted the first one later that year as Secretary.