Born in Bourbon County, Kentucky. Admitted to the Ohio bar in 1817. Married Sarah Ross in 1822. Practiced law as prosecuting attorney in Warren County, Ohio 1818 to 1828.

Elected to the Ohio House of Representatives and served 1822, 1823 and 1829. Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives and served March 3, 1831, to May 30, 1840. Elected Governor of Ohio in 1840. Elected to the U.S. Senate and served March 4, 1845, to July 20, 1850. His unexpired term was completed by Thomas Ewing.

Appointed Secretary of the Treasury by President Fillmore and served July 23, 1850, to March 6, 1853. Corwin returned to the House of Representatives March 4, 1859, to March 12, 1861. Served as minister to Mexico in the war years March 22, 1861, to September 1, 1864. He died in Washington, D.C.

bio: ApCAB; BDC; BDEB; DAB; Drake; NCAB 6; TCBDA; WWWA-H