George A. Jenks
Encyclopedia
George A. Jenks was a politician from Pennsylvania
and Solicitor General.
Jenks was born in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania
on March 25, 1836. He proceeded to graduate from Jefferson College in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania
(now Washington & Jefferson College
) in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania
, in 1858. He was a member of Phi Kappa Psi
. Two years later he married Mary A. Mabon, and they had one daughter. Jenks first worked as a lawyer before beginning a career as a judge and politician. He served as a Congressmen for Pennsylvania
from 1875–1877, in the 44th Congress
. He served as chairman of the United States House Committee on Invalid Pensions during the Forty-fourth Congress. He was also one of the managers appointed by the House of Representatives in 1876 to conduct the impeachment proceedings against William W. Belknap
, ex-Secretary of War.
Following his tenure in Congress, Jenks was nominated for judge of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
in 1880, before being selected as U.S. Assistant Secretary of Interior; a position which he held from 1885-1886.
From 1886-1889 Jenks served as United States Solicitor General
, during President Grover Cleveland
’s first term. He was the Democratic nominee for governorship of Pennsylvania in 1898, as well as the Democratic senatorial nominee in 1899 during the Quay
deadlock. Jenks died February 10, 1908 at his home in Brookville, Pennsylvania
.
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
and Solicitor General.
Jenks was born in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania
Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania
Punxsutawney is a borough in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, United States, northeast of Pittsburgh. In 1907, Punxsutawney and Claysville boroughs were consolidated and incorporated as Greater Punxsutawney. A high-grade soft coal was mined in the surrounding region...
on March 25, 1836. He proceeded to graduate from Jefferson College in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania
Canonsburg, Pennsylvania
Canonsburg is a borough in Washington County, Pennsylvania, southwest of Pittsburgh. Canonsburg was laid out by Colonel John Canon in 1789 and incorporated in 1802....
(now Washington & Jefferson College
Washington & Jefferson College
Washington & Jefferson College, also known as W & J College or W&J, is a private liberal arts college in Washington, Pennsylvania, in the United States, which is south of Pittsburgh...
) in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania
Canonsburg, Pennsylvania
Canonsburg is a borough in Washington County, Pennsylvania, southwest of Pittsburgh. Canonsburg was laid out by Colonel John Canon in 1789 and incorporated in 1802....
, in 1858. He was a member of Phi Kappa Psi
Phi Kappa Psi
Phi Kappa Psi is an American collegiate social fraternity founded at Jefferson College in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania on February 19, 1852. There are over a hundred chapters and colonies at accredited four year colleges and universities throughout the United States. More than 112,000 men have been...
. Two years later he married Mary A. Mabon, and they had one daughter. Jenks first worked as a lawyer before beginning a career as a judge and politician. He served as a Congressmen for Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
from 1875–1877, in the 44th Congress
44th United States Congress
The Forty-fourth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1875 to March 4, 1877, during the seventh and...
. He served as chairman of the United States House Committee on Invalid Pensions during the Forty-fourth Congress. He was also one of the managers appointed by the House of Representatives in 1876 to conduct the impeachment proceedings against William W. Belknap
William W. Belknap
William Worth Belknap was a United States Army general, government administrator, and United States Secretary of War. He was the only Cabinet secretary ever to have been impeached by the United States House of Representatives.-Birth and early years:Born in Newburgh, New York to career soldier...
, ex-Secretary of War.
Following his tenure in Congress, Jenks was nominated for judge of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania is the court of last resort for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It meets in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.-History:...
in 1880, before being selected as U.S. Assistant Secretary of Interior; a position which he held from 1885-1886.
From 1886-1889 Jenks served as United States Solicitor General
United States Solicitor General
The United States Solicitor General is the person appointed to represent the federal government of the United States before the Supreme Court of the United States. The current Solicitor General, Donald B. Verrilli, Jr. was confirmed by the United States Senate on June 6, 2011 and sworn in on June...
, during President Grover Cleveland
Grover Cleveland
Stephen Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. Cleveland is the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms and therefore is the only individual to be counted twice in the numbering of the presidents...
’s first term. He was the Democratic nominee for governorship of Pennsylvania in 1898, as well as the Democratic senatorial nominee in 1899 during the Quay
Matthew Quay
Matthew Stanley Quay was an immensely powerful Pennsylvania political boss; "kingmaker" . "Boss" Quay's political principles and actions stood in contrast to an unusually attractive personality...
deadlock. Jenks died February 10, 1908 at his home in Brookville, Pennsylvania
Brookville, Pennsylvania
Brookville is a borough in Jefferson County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, 100 miles northeast of Pittsburgh. 2,472 people lived in Brookville in 1900, and 3,003 people lived there in 1910. The population was 4,230 at the 2000 census...
.