John Henry Puleston
Encyclopedia
Sir John Henry Puleston (2 June 1830-19 October 1908) was a Welsh journalist and entrepreneur in the United States and later a Conservative
politician who represented Devonport.
the son of John Puleston, a prosperous farmer of Llanfair Dyffryn
Clwyd
, and his wife Mary Jones. He was educated at Ruthin Grammar School and King's College, London.. He went to America where he began by trying to establish a medical practice in New York. This was unsuccessful but he became acquainted with Governor Morgan
and became involved in politics. He applied to Horace Greeley
to become a political missionary for the Republican Party among Welsh miners in Pennsylvania. Turning to journalism, he edited a Welsh newspaper at Scranton, and purchased the Pittston Gazette. He was then editor of the Phoenixville Guardian for a short time, but departed from the town leaving debts. He invested in railroads and developed his political contacts. Puleston managed to obtain the role of secretary to a Peace Commission established prior to the American Civil War
and achieved a national reputation, presenting reports to Abraham Lincoln
and the House of Representatives. When the American Civil War broke out, Governor Curtin
appointed Puleston as military agent for the state of Pennsylvania with the rank of Colonel. He later drew a lucrative salary as secretary of Butterfield's Overland Express Company, and then became a broker on Wall Street
with the firm Raymond, Puleston & Co. He was associated with Jay Cooke, McCullogh & Co, bankers and returned to London.
In 1874 Puleston was elected as one of the MP
s for Plymouth Devonport. In 1879 as MP visiting Philadelphia he was reminded of his debts, and hunted them down and repaid them all.. He was chairman City of London Conservative Association and Treaurer of the Royal Asylum of St Anne's Society. He was awarded a knighthood in 1887.
Puleston died a bankrupt.
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
politician who represented Devonport.
Biography
Puleston was born at PlasnewyddPlasnewydd
Plasnewydd is an electoral ward of Cardiff, Wales. It falls within the parliamentary constituency of Cardiff Central. It is bounded by the wards of Cyncoed to the north; Penylan to the northeast; Adamsdown to the southwest; and Cathays to the west. It mainly covers the district of Roath.-External...
the son of John Puleston, a prosperous farmer of Llanfair Dyffryn
Dyffryn
Dyffryn may refer to one of these places in Wales:*Dyffryn, Bridgend*Dyffryn Cennen, Carmarthenshire*Dyffryn, Ceredigion*Dyffryn, Neath Port Talbot *Dyffryn, Pembrokeshire*Dyffryn Gardens...
Clwyd
Clwyd
Clwyd is a preserved county of Wales, situated in the north-east, bordering England with Cheshire to its east, Shropshire to the south-east, and the Welsh counties of Gwynedd to its immediate west and Powys to the south. It additionally shares a maritime border with the metropolitan county of...
, and his wife Mary Jones. He was educated at Ruthin Grammar School and King's College, London.. He went to America where he began by trying to establish a medical practice in New York. This was unsuccessful but he became acquainted with Governor Morgan
Edwin D. Morgan
Edwin Denison Morgan was the 21st Governor of New York from 1859 to 1862 and served in the United States Senate from 1863 to 1869. He was the first and longest-serving chairman of the Republican National Committee...
and became involved in politics. He applied to Horace Greeley
Horace Greeley
Horace Greeley was an American newspaper editor, a founder of the Liberal Republican Party, a reformer, a politician, and an outspoken opponent of slavery...
to become a political missionary for the Republican Party among Welsh miners in Pennsylvania. Turning to journalism, he edited a Welsh newspaper at Scranton, and purchased the Pittston Gazette. He was then editor of the Phoenixville Guardian for a short time, but departed from the town leaving debts. He invested in railroads and developed his political contacts. Puleston managed to obtain the role of secretary to a Peace Commission established prior to the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
and achieved a national reputation, presenting reports to 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...
and the House of Representatives. When the American Civil War broke out, Governor Curtin
Andrew Gregg Curtin
Andrew Gregg Curtin was a U.S. lawyer and politician. He served as the Governor of Pennsylvania during the Civil War.-Biography:...
appointed Puleston as military agent for the state of Pennsylvania with the rank of Colonel. He later drew a lucrative salary as secretary of Butterfield's Overland Express Company, and then became a broker on Wall Street
Wall Street
Wall Street refers to the financial district of New York City, named after and centered on the eight-block-long street running from Broadway to South Street on the East River in Lower Manhattan. Over time, the term has become a metonym for the financial markets of the United States as a whole, or...
with the firm Raymond, Puleston & Co. He was associated with Jay Cooke, McCullogh & Co, bankers and returned to London.
In 1874 Puleston was elected as one of the MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
s for Plymouth Devonport. In 1879 as MP visiting Philadelphia he was reminded of his debts, and hunted them down and repaid them all.. He was chairman City of London Conservative Association and Treaurer of the Royal Asylum of St Anne's Society. He was awarded a knighthood in 1887.
Puleston died a bankrupt.