James Whitcomb | |
|---|---|
 Posthumous portrait by James Forbes | |
| 8th Governor of Indiana | |
| In office December 6, 1843 – December 27, 1848 | |
| Lieutenant | Jesse D. Bright Paris C. Dunning |
| Preceded by | Samuel Bigger |
| Succeeded by | Paris C. Dunning |
| Indiana State Senate | |
| In office December 5, 1830 – December 4, 1836 | |
| United States Senator from Indiana | |
| In office March 4, 1849 – October 4, 1852 | |
| Preceded by | Edward A. Hannegan |
| Succeeded by | Charles W. Cathcart |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 1, 1795 Windsor County, Vermont |
| Died | October 4, 1852 (aged 56) New York City |
| Political party | Democrat |
| Spouse | Martha Ann Hurst |
| Relations | Claude Matthews (son-in-law) |
| Children | Martha Renick Whitcomb |
| Alma mater | Transylvania University |
James Whitcomb (December 1, 1795 – October 4, 1852) was a Democratic United States senator and the eighth governor of Indiana. As governor during the Mexican–American War, he oversaw the formation and deployment of the state's levies. He led the movement to replace the state constitution and played an important role at the convention to institute a law that prevented the government from taking loans in response the current fiscal crisis in Indiana. By skillfully guiding the state through its bankruptcy, Whitcomb is usually credited as being one of the most successful of Indiana's governors. He was elected to the United States Senate after his term as governor but died of kidney disease only three years later.