James Gadsden (May 15, 1788 – December 26, 1858) was an American diplomat, soldier and businessman after whom the Gadsden Purchase is named, pertaining to land which the United States bought from Mexico, and which became the southern portions of Arizona and New Mexico.

Who is James Gadsden and what did he do?

(1788-1858) James Gadsden was the diplomat (known as minister) to Mexico where he negotiated for the Gadsden Purchase in 1853. The Gadsden Purchase allowed the US to acquire 45,000 square miles of land that is now in New Mexico and Arizona.

What did Gadsden do?

Gadsden’s Purchase provided the land necessary for a southern transcontinental railroad and attempted to resolve conflicts that lingered after the Mexican-American War.