John R. French
Encyclopedia
John Robert French was an American
Congressional Representative
from North Carolina
.
Born in Gilmanton, New Hampshire
, French received an academic education in Gilmanton and Concord, New Hampshire
. He learned the printer’s trade, and worked as publisher and associate editor of the New Hampshire Statesman at Concord for five years. He also worked as editor of the Eastern Journal at Biddeford, Maine
for two years. He moved to Lake County, Ohio
in 1854, where he worked as editor of the Telegraph, the Press, and, in 1856, of the Cleveland Morning Leader.
In 1858 and 1859, French served as a member of the Ohio House of Representatives
. In 1861, he was appointed by Secretary Salmon P. Chase
to a position in the Treasury Department
, Washington, D.C.
. In 1864, he was appointed by President Abraham Lincoln
a member of the board of direct-tax commissioners for the State of North Carolina
, and settled in Edenton, North Carolina
at the close of the Civil War
. In 1867, he served as a Delegate to the State constitutional convention.
Upon the readmission of the State of North Carolina to representation following the Civil War, French was elected as a Republican
to the Fortieth Congress and served from July 6, 1868 to March 3, 1869. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1868, but was elected Sergeant at Arms of the United States Senate
on March 22, 1869 and served in that capacity until March 24, 1879. He was appointed secretary of the Ute
Commission in July 1880, whereupon he returned to Washington, D.C.
.
In his later years, French moved to Omaha, Nebraska
, and thence to Boise City, Idaho, where he was editor of the Boise City Sun until his death. He is interred in Boise City Cemetery.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Congressional Representative
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 North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
.
Born in Gilmanton, New Hampshire
Gilmanton, New Hampshire
Gilmanton is a town in Belknap County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 3,777 at the 2010 census. Gilmanton includes the villages of Gilmanton Corner and Gilmanton Ironworks...
, French received an academic education in Gilmanton and Concord, New Hampshire
Concord, New Hampshire
The city of Concord is the capital of the state of New Hampshire in the United States. It is also the county seat of Merrimack County. As of the 2010 census, its population was 42,695....
. He learned the printer’s trade, and worked as publisher and associate editor of the New Hampshire Statesman at Concord for five years. He also worked as editor of the Eastern Journal at Biddeford, Maine
Biddeford, Maine
Biddeford is a town in York County, Maine, United States. It is the largest town in the county, and is the sixth-largest in the state. It is the most southerly incorporated town in the state and the principal commercial center of York County. The population was 21,277 at the 2010 census...
for two years. He moved to Lake County, Ohio
Lake County, Ohio
Lake County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of 2010, the population was 230,041. The county seat is Painesville, and the county name comes from its location on the southern shore of Lake Erie....
in 1854, where he worked as editor of the Telegraph, the Press, and, in 1856, of the Cleveland Morning Leader.
In 1858 and 1859, French served as a member of the Ohio House of Representatives
Ohio House of Representatives
The Ohio House of Representatives is the lower house of the Ohio General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Ohio; the other house of the bicameral legislature being the Ohio Senate....
. In 1861, he was appointed by Secretary Salmon P. Chase
Salmon P. Chase
Salmon Portland Chase was an American politician and jurist who served as U.S. Senator from Ohio and the 23rd Governor of Ohio; as U.S. Treasury Secretary under President Abraham Lincoln; and as the sixth Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court.Chase was one of the most prominent members...
to a position in the Treasury Department
United States Department of the Treasury
The Department of the Treasury is an executive department and the treasury of the United States federal government. It was established by an Act of Congress in 1789 to manage government revenue...
, Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
. In 1864, he was appointed by 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...
a member of the board of direct-tax commissioners for the State of North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, and settled in Edenton, North Carolina
Edenton, North Carolina
Edenton is a town in Chowan County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 4,966 at the 2008 census. It is the county seat of Chowan County. Edenton is located in North Carolina's Inner Banks region. In recent years Edenton has become a popular retirement location and a destination for...
at the close of the 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...
. In 1867, he served as a Delegate to the State constitutional convention.
Upon the readmission of the State of North Carolina to representation following the Civil War, French was elected as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
to the Fortieth Congress and served from July 6, 1868 to March 3, 1869. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1868, but was elected Sergeant at Arms of the United States Senate
Sergeant at Arms of the United States Senate
The Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate is the law enforcer for the United States Senate. One of the chief roles of the Sergeant is to hold the gavel used at every session...
on March 22, 1869 and served in that capacity until March 24, 1879. He was appointed secretary of the Ute
Ute Tribe
The Ute are an American Indian people now living primarily in Utah and Colorado. There are three Ute tribal reservations: Uintah-Ouray in northeastern Utah ; Southern Ute in Colorado ; and Ute Mountain which primarily lies in Colorado, but extends to Utah and New Mexico . The name of the state of...
Commission in July 1880, whereupon he returned to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
.
In his later years, French moved to Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
, and thence to Boise City, Idaho, where he was editor of the Boise City Sun until his death. He is interred in Boise City Cemetery.