New York University will host a celebration of the 250th anniversary of the birth of Albert Gallatin, a founding father of both the United States of America and NYU, on Thursday, September 23, 6-8 p.m., at the school bearing his name, NYU’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study.
New York University will host a celebration of the 250th anniversary of the birth of Albert Gallatin, a founding father of both the United States of America and NYU, on Thursday, September 23, 6-8 p.m., at the school bearing his name, NYU’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study (Jerry H. Labowitz Theatre for the Performing Arts, 1 Washington Place [at Broadway]).
Gallatin, who was born January 29, 1761 and who emigrated from Switzerland to America in 1780, served as secretary of the treasury in the Jefferson and Madison administrations—the longest-serving treasury secretary in U.S. history. Gallatin, who also was president of the New-York Historical Society, is buried in Trinity churchyard at Broadway and Wall Street. The event coincides with the release of Gallatin America’s Swiss Founding Father (NYU Press), authored by Nicholas Dungan.
The celebration will include remarks by: Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey; NYU President John Sexton; Gallatin School Dean Susanne Wofford; and author Nicholas Dungan.
“During his first years in office, he focused his efforts on reimbursing the public debt,” Dungan writes in America’s Swiss Founding Father. “Gallatin’s fiscal conservatism and administrative excellence allowed him to finance the Louisiana Purchase through a bond issue and meet the exceptional financial challenges caused by European conflicts and the War of 1812, which sorely tested public finances.”
“Among many lessons of his career,” the author concludes, “Gallatin teaches us that public debt reduction requires unwavering political commitment to fiscal discipline.”
Reporters interested in attending must RSVP to James Devitt, NYU’s Office of Public Affairs, at 212.998.6808 or james.devitt@nyu.edu.