1787–1863, U.S. public official, b. Woodford co., Ky. A Kentucky legislator (1811–17), Crittenden entered the U.S. Senate (1817–19) but resigned to resume state offices. He served as Attorney General under Presidents William H. Harrison and John Tyler (March to Sept., 1841) and Millard Fillmore (1850–53). He replaced Henry Clay when Clay resigned from his Senate seat (1842) and was reelected the next year. During his last term in the Senate (1855–61), Crittenden was foremost in attempting to conciliate North and South (see Crittenden Compromise) and was chairman of the Border States Convention (May, 1868).

See study by A. D. Kirwan (1962).

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