About the OCC:

Freeman Clarke
Comptroller of the Currency, 1865 - 1866

Freeman Clarke, a successful businessman and one-term congressman from New York, was appointed Comptroller by President Lincoln. During his 16-month tenure, the national banking system continued its steady growth, with over 1,000 banks joining. The system also recorded its first bank failure on April 14, 1865, the day President Lincoln was assassinated. Clarke returned to New York politics after his resignation and later served two terms in Congress.

Comptrollers of the Currency

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency was created by Congress to charter national banks, to oversee a nationwide system of banking institutions, and to assure that national banks are safe and sound, competitive and profitable, and capable of serving in the best possible manner the banking needs of their customers.