James H. Eckels

James Herron Eckels (November 22, 1858 – April 14, 1907) was an American lawyer and businessman who served as Comptroller of the Currency from 1893 to 1897.

Early life and education Eckels was born in Princeton, Illinois. Eckels's father was an active member of the Democratic Party, and had moved to Princeton from the state of Pennsylvania.

In 1892, Eckels campaigned for his friend Grover Cleveland's campaign to regain election to the American presidency. He delivered numerous well-received speeches supporting Cleveland's platform for tariff reform. Eckels managed to negotiate the re-opening of 115 of the 165 national that had closed at the start of the panic, and managed to guide them through the criss.

Eckels resigned in 1897.

In the early 1900s, Eckels commissioned a new headquarters for the bank. The bank ultimately opened two weeks after his death.