James Herron Eckels (November 22, 1858 – April 14, 1907) was a United States Comptroller of the Currency from 1893 to 1897. 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 The Panic of 1893 was an economic depression in the United States that began in 1893 and ended in 1897. It deeply affected every sector of the economy, and produced political upheaval that led to the political realignment of 1896 and the pres ...

. 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.

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United States comptrollers of the currency Comptrollers in the United States 1858 births 1907 deaths Cleveland administration personnel McKinley administration personnel {{US-gov-bio-stub