James H. Eckels

James Herron Eckels (November 22, 1858 – April 14, 1907) was a United States Comptroller of the Currency from 1893 to 1897.

James Eckels
9th Comptroller of the Currency
In office April 26, 1893 - December 31, 1897
President	Grover Cleveland William McKinley
Preceded by	A. Barton Hepburn
Succeeded by	Charles G. Dawes
Personal details
Born	(1858-11-22)November 22, 1858
Died	April 14, 1907(1907-04-14) (aged 48)

Eckels' appointment broke the precedent that only those with previous banking experience could serve as Comptroller. Eckels, a 35-year-old lawyer, was named comptroller by President Grover Cleveland.

A month after Eckels took office, the country plunged into the Panic of 1893. His efforts to restore confidence in the national banking system played an important role in bringing back the economic health of the nation. Eckels became president of a national bank in Chicago in 1898.^[1]