Born in Geneva. Graduated from the Geneva Academy in 1779. He settled in Boston in 1780. Married Sophie Allegre in 1789. Married Hannah Nicholson in November 11, 1793. He had two sons. Served during the Revolutionary War.

Elected to the Pennsylvania state legislature 1790 to 1792. Elected to the Senate but was refused because of citizenship problems. Later elected to the House of Representatives and served March 4, 1795 to March 3, 1801. Appointed Secretary of the Treasury by President Jefferson and served May 14, 1801, to February 8, 1814. He declined the appointment in 1816 and even later in 1843. Appointed minister to France and Great Britain. Served as president of the National Bank of the City of New York. Later the Gallatin National Bank of the City of New York, and later the Central Hanover Trust Company. He was a founder of New York University. He died in Astoria, Long Island, New York.

Gallatin appears on paper money:

$500 United States Notes, series of 1862 and 1863 Gallatin appears on a mint medal (USM 221) as one of the series for Secretaries of the Treasury. Dies were by George T. Morgan. Gallatin appears on the Assay Commission Medal for 1968 (AC-112). The obverse was by Frank Gasparro; reverse by Edgar Steever.

bio: ApCAB; BDC; BDEB; DAB; Drake; EAB; Failor; Limpert; NCAB 3; TCBDA; WAB; WWWA-H; BNR Mar 82