Dallas, Alexander (James) (1759–1817)

US politician and financier. In 1814 James Madison made him secretary to the Treasury. He found the government bankrupt, but left it with a surplus of more than $20 million. He also served for some months as secretary of war, and during that time reorganized the army on a peace footing.

Dallas was born in Jamaica, West Indies, and educated at Edinburgh, Scotland. He practised law in Jamaica and later, having taken the oath of allegiance to the USA, in Philadelphia. He held several important positions in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He wrote An Exposition of the Causes and Character of the War of 1812–1815 1815.