John Abercrombie (Congressman)
Encyclopedia
John William Abercrombie (May 17, 1866 – July 2, 1940) was President of the University of Alabama
and a member of the United States House of Representatives
from Alabama
. He was born in St. Clair County, Alabama
, near Kellys Creek Post Office, in 1866.
He attended rural schools, and ultimately graduated from Oxford College in Alabama in 1866. He went on to receive a degree in law from the University of Alabama
in 1888. He was admitted to the bar that same year and practiced in Cleburne County, Alabama
through 1890. He also served as a high school principal, city school superintendent, and college president from 1888 through 1898.
He was elected to the Alabama Senate
from 1896 through 1898. He then served the state as the state superintendent of education from 1898 to 1902. In 1902 he was made the President of the University of Alabama and he served in that capacity until 1911.
In 1912, he was elected from the Democratic Party
to the United States House of Representatives, where he served through 1917. He went on to serve as Solicitor and Acting Secretary in the United States Department of Labor
from 1918 through 1920. In 1920, he was elected the Superintendent of Education in Alabama. He resided in Montgomery, Alabama
, where he died in 1940 at the age of 74.
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
and a member of the United States House of Representatives
United 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...
from Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
. He was born in St. Clair County, Alabama
St. Clair County, Alabama
St. Clair County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama.It is a part of the Birmingham–Hoover–Cullman Combined Statistical Area. Its name is in honor of General Arthur St...
, near Kellys Creek Post Office, in 1866.
He attended rural schools, and ultimately graduated from Oxford College in Alabama in 1866. He went on to receive a degree in law from the University of Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
in 1888. He was admitted to the bar that same year and practiced in Cleburne County, Alabama
Cleburne County, Alabama
Cleburne County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of Major General Patrick Cleburne, of Arkansas. As of 2010 the population was 14,972. Its county seat is Heflin.- History :...
through 1890. He also served as a high school principal, city school superintendent, and college president from 1888 through 1898.
He was elected to the Alabama Senate
Alabama Senate
The Alabama State Senate is the upper house of the Alabama Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Alabama. The body is composed of 35 members representing an equal amount of districts across the state, with each district containing at least 127,140 citizens...
from 1896 through 1898. He then served the state as the state superintendent of education from 1898 to 1902. In 1902 he was made the President of the University of Alabama and he served in that capacity until 1911.
In 1912, he was elected from the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
to the United States House of Representatives, where he served through 1917. He went on to serve as Solicitor and Acting Secretary in the United States Department of Labor
United States Department of Labor
The United States Department of Labor is a Cabinet department of the United States government responsible for occupational safety, wage and hour standards, unemployment insurance benefits, re-employment services, and some economic statistics. Many U.S. states also have such departments. The...
from 1918 through 1920. In 1920, he was elected the Superintendent of Education in Alabama. He resided in Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery is the capital of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is the county seat of Montgomery County. It is located on the Alabama River southeast of the center of the state, in the Gulf Coastal Plain. As of the 2010 census, Montgomery had a population of 205,764 making it the second-largest city...
, where he died in 1940 at the age of 74.