John A. J. Creswell
Encyclopedia
John Angel James Creswell (November 18, 1828 December 23, 1891) was an American
politician from Maryland
. He served as Postmaster General of the United States
during the Grant administration.
, Creswell attended a local academy before moving on to Dickinson College
where he graduated in 1848. He studied law and was admitted to the bar
in Baltimore in 1850, commencing practice in Elkton, Maryland
. He was an unsuccessful Whig
candidate to the Reform State Convention in 1850 and was elected a member of the Maryland House of Delegates
in 1861 after becoming affiliated with the Republican Party. Creswell served as adjutant general
of Maryland
from 1862 to 1863.
in 1862, serving from 1863 to 1865. A staunch supporter of President Abraham Lincoln
, Creswell was the first man in Congress to propose a constitutional amendment banning slavery. After losing reelection to the House in 1864, he was elected to the U.S. Senate
to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Thomas H. Hicks
, serving from 1865 until the end of that term in 1867. During his time in the Senate, he served as chairman of the Committee on the Library
in the 39th Congress
. At the Republican National Convention
in 1868, Creswell's name was put forward for either the presidential
or vice presidential
nominations.
was elected, he appointed Creswell Postmaster General
. As Postmaster General, he reorganized the Post Office Department
, introduced penny postcard
s and postal telegraphs, proposed a postal savings system. Creswell proved to be one of the ablest organizers ever to head the Post Office. He cut costs while greatly expanding the number of mail routes, postal clerks and letter carriers. He introduced the penny post card and worked with Fish to revise postal treaties. A Radical, he used the vast patronage of the post office to support Grant's coalition. He asked for the total abolition of the franking privilege since it reduced the revenue receipts by five percent. The franking privilege allowed members of Congress to send mail at the government’s expense.
Because of the scandals that plagued the Grant administration, Creswell resigned, but accepted the appointment of a United States counsel before the Alabama Claims Commission
which he served as from 1874 to 1876. Afterwards, he resumed practicing law and served as the president of two banks. He died near Elkton, Maryland
on December 23, 1891 and was interred in Elkton Presbyterian Cemetery.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician from Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
. He served as Postmaster General of the United States
United States Postmaster General
The United States Postmaster General is the Chief Executive Officer of the United States Postal Service. The office, in one form or another, is older than both the United States Constitution and the United States Declaration of Independence...
during the Grant administration.
Biography
Born in Creswells Ferry in what is today known as Port Deposit, MarylandPort Deposit, Maryland
Port Deposit is a town in Cecil County, Maryland, United States. It is located on the north bank of the Susquehanna River near its discharge into the Chesapeake Bay...
, Creswell attended a local academy before moving on to Dickinson College
Dickinson College
Dickinson College is a private, residential liberal arts college in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Originally established as a Grammar School in 1773, Dickinson was chartered September 9, 1783, five days after the signing of the Treaty of Paris, making it the first college to be founded in the newly...
where he graduated in 1848. He studied law and was admitted to the bar
Admission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
in Baltimore in 1850, commencing practice in Elkton, Maryland
Elkton, Maryland
The town of Elkton is the county seat of Cecil County, Maryland, United States. The population was 11,893 as of the 2000 census and 14,842 according to current July 2008 census estimates. It is the county seat of Cecil County...
. He was an unsuccessful Whig
Whig Party (United States)
The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic...
candidate to the Reform State Convention in 1850 and was elected a member of the Maryland House of Delegates
Maryland House of Delegates
The Maryland House of Delegates is the lower house of the General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maryland, and is composed of 141 Delegates elected from 47 districts. The House chamber is located in the state capitol building on State Circle in Annapolis...
in 1861 after becoming affiliated with the Republican Party. Creswell served as adjutant general
Adjutant general
An Adjutant General is a military chief administrative officer.-Imperial Russia:In Imperial Russia, the General-Adjutant was a Court officer, who was usually an army general. He served as a personal aide to the Tsar and hence was a member of the H. I. M. Retinue...
of Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
from 1862 to 1863.
Congress
Creswell was elected to the U.S. House of RepresentativesUnited States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
in 1862, serving from 1863 to 1865. A staunch supporter of President Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
, Creswell was the first man in Congress to propose a constitutional amendment banning slavery. After losing reelection to the House in 1864, he was elected to the U.S. Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Thomas H. Hicks
Thomas Holliday Hicks
Thomas Holliday Hicks was an American politician from Maryland. He served as the 31st Governor of Maryland from 1858 until 1862, and as a U.S...
, serving from 1865 until the end of that term in 1867. During his time in the Senate, he served as chairman of the Committee on the Library
United States Congress Joint Committee on the Library
The Joint Committee on the Library is a joint committee of the United States Congress devoted to the affairs and administration of the Library of Congress, which is the library of the federal legislature. There are five members of each house on the committee. It has no subcommittees.The committee...
in the 39th Congress
39th United States Congress
The Thirty-ninth 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, 1865 to March 4, 1867, during the first month of...
. At the Republican National Convention
1868 Republican National Convention
The 1868 National Convention of the Republican Party of the United States was held in Crosby's Opera House, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, on May 20 to May 21, 1868....
in 1868, Creswell's name was put forward for either the presidential
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
or vice presidential
Vice President of the United States
The Vice President of the United States is the holder of a public office created by the United States Constitution. The Vice President, together with the President of the United States, is indirectly elected by the people, through the Electoral College, to a four-year term...
nominations.
Postmaster General
After Ulysses S. GrantUlysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant was the 18th President of the United States as well as military commander during the Civil War and post-war Reconstruction periods. Under Grant's command, the Union Army defeated the Confederate military and ended the Confederate States of America...
was elected, he appointed Creswell Postmaster General
United States Postmaster General
The United States Postmaster General is the Chief Executive Officer of the United States Postal Service. The office, in one form or another, is older than both the United States Constitution and the United States Declaration of Independence...
. As Postmaster General, he reorganized the Post Office Department
United States Post Office Department
The Post Office Department was the name of the United States Postal Service when it was a Cabinet department. It was headed by the Postmaster General....
, introduced penny postcard
Postcard
A postcard or post card is a rectangular piece of thick paper or thin cardboard intended for writing and mailing without an envelope....
s and postal telegraphs, proposed a postal savings system. Creswell proved to be one of the ablest organizers ever to head the Post Office. He cut costs while greatly expanding the number of mail routes, postal clerks and letter carriers. He introduced the penny post card and worked with Fish to revise postal treaties. A Radical, he used the vast patronage of the post office to support Grant's coalition. He asked for the total abolition of the franking privilege since it reduced the revenue receipts by five percent. The franking privilege allowed members of Congress to send mail at the government’s expense.
Because of the scandals that plagued the Grant administration, Creswell resigned, but accepted the appointment of a United States counsel before the Alabama Claims Commission
Alabama Claims
The Alabama Claims were a series of claims for damages by the United States government against the government of Great Britain for the assistance given to the Confederate cause during the American Civil War. After international arbitration endorsed the American position in 1872, Britain settled...
which he served as from 1874 to 1876. Afterwards, he resumed practicing law and served as the president of two banks. He died near Elkton, Maryland
Elkton, Maryland
The town of Elkton is the county seat of Cecil County, Maryland, United States. The population was 11,893 as of the 2000 census and 14,842 according to current July 2008 census estimates. It is the county seat of Cecil County...
on December 23, 1891 and was interred in Elkton Presbyterian Cemetery.