Ashmun, George

(1804-1870), of Ma achusetts, was a member of the General Court in 1833, 1835, 1836 and in 1841 was Speaker of the House, was U. S. Senator in 1838 and 1839, and a Representative from 1845 to 1851. In 1860 he was president of the convention which nominated Lincoln.: Asiento. Under one of the provisions of the Treaty of Utrecht, 1713, the English South Sea Company had the contract (asiento) for the annual transportation to Spanish America of not le than 4,800 negro slaves. This contract had formerly been accorded to a company of French merchants, Its po e ion by the English stimulated the English slave trade to the English colonies, Asp in wall, William H. (1807-1875), of New York, merchant. In 18g0 he secured the contract for building the Panama Railroad, which was completed in 1854, its eastern terminus being named Asp in wall.