Background
Caldwell was born in Baltimore, Maryland, and moved to Wheeling, which was at the time in Virginia.
United States representative politician
Caldwell was born in Baltimore, Maryland, and moved to Wheeling, which was at the time in Virginia.
He came to Saint Clairsville, Ohio in 1799. He purchased the first lot in the village, and opened a store in 1801. He became wealthy and was the first president of the Belmont Bank of Saint Clairsville.
When Belmont County was organized in 1801, Northwest Territory Governor Arthur Saint Clair named him Clerk of Courts.
He was a Belmont county delegate to the 1802 Ohio Constitutional Convention. He ran for his first term in Congress in 1812 as a captain in the militia supporting the administration and the War of 1812 against Federalist candidate Bezaleel Wells.
He was elected to the 13th and 14th United States Congresses (1813-1803-04 – 1817-1803-03). After he retired from Congress, he resumed business in Saint Clairsville.
Ohio Presidential elector in 1820 for James Monroe.
Ohio Presidential elector in 1824 for Henry Clay. Caldwell later moved to Wheeling, where he was president of the Merchants and Mechanics Bank. He died in Wheeling May 5, 1838, and was buried in Episcopal Cemetery, Saint Clairsville.
Member Ohio Senate, 1809-1812. Member United States House