Born in German Flats, New York. He had little formal education. He was apprenticed to a confectioner, a sadler and later a merchant. Married Caroline Caswell June 22, 1826. They had three daughters. Employed as cashier and later president of the Mohawk Bank. He served in the New York State Militia and rose to the rank of major general in 1834. Served as sheriff of Herkimer County 1834 to 1837. State inspector of turnpikes 1838 to 1855.

Elected to the House of Representatives and served March 4, 1855, to March 3, 1861.

Appointed Treasurer of the United States by President Lincoln and served March 16, 1861, to June 30, 1875. He successfully urged the employment of women in the Treasury Department.

During his term in office small change was in short supply. He purchased a supply of stamps and stuck them on pieces of paper and circulated them around his department. They were generally accepted as small change. Thus Spinner is credited with the introduction of "Postal Currency."

His signature has been described as "the track of a drunken crab playing tag with a corkscrew." This signature appears on Fractional Currency beginning with the third issue. Early Demand Notes of 1861 were signed in the name of Spinner by clerks in the Treasury Department. Later United States Notes had the printed signature of Spinner.

Spinner was concerned over the security of paper money stored at the Treasury. He slept on a cot in his office. Occasionally at night he would walk the halls in his nightshirt checking the locks. His efforts also kept the guards alert since their boss might come by at any hour of the night.

He died in Jacksonville, Florida.

Spinner appears on paper money:

50c fractional currency, third issue

bio: ApCAB; BDC; DAB; Drake; NCAB 12; NUM/NIN; TCBDA; WWWA-H; NUM/NIN 2/95 CW/NM 11/14/94

photo: NUM 62 May 1949 page 287