William Dudley Foulke
Encyclopedia
William Dudley Foulke was an American literary critic, journalist, poet and reformer.
and graduated Columbia Law School
in 1871. He practiced law in New York until 1876, when he moved to Richmond, Indiana
, and married Mary Taylor Reeves .
Foulke became involved in local politics and was elected to the Indiana State Senate from 1882 to 1886. As a senator, he introduced bills to reform the state’s civil service system . In addition, he investigated abuses against inmates and employees at the state hospital for the insane . He served on the Platform Committee of the Progressive Party
. In 1889 he was asked by the National Civil Service Reform League to investigate the U.S. Federal civil service. President Theodore Roosevelt
appointed Foulke a Commissioner in the Civil Service Commission in 1901 .
He was also one of the early presidents of the American Woman Suffrage Association, the first president of the Proportional Representation League, and (for five years) president of the National Municipal League .
As a writer, Foulke wrote on a number of diverse subjects. In 1898, he published a biography of Oliver Hazard Perry Morton
. Later, he translated the medieval History of The Lombards
by Paul the Deacon
. Other works include Biographical Introduction to Some Love Poems of Petrarch
(1916).
Some of his poems include Honor to France. Foulke wrote two memoirs: Fighting the Spoilsmen (1919), where he recounted his career in fighting for civil service reform. There followed a more general reminiscences, A Hoosier Autobiography (1922).
In 1903 Foulke became the president of the Society of Friends of Russian Freedom. The society was reestablished in Boston by Alice Stone Blackwell. As Foulke recalled, "this association had no very definite organisation, but acted as occasion offered". Foulke and other notable Americans (Blackwell, Wald, Howe, Addams), who endorsed Russian revolutionists and liberals in their fighting against the autocracy, encouraged Russian emigre Breshko-Breskovskaya in 1904-1905, when she arrived in the USA for tapping moral support and some money.
Biography
He was born in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and graduated Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School, founded in 1858, is one of the oldest and most prestigious law schools in the United States. A member of the Ivy League, Columbia Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Columbia University in New York City. It offers the J.D., LL.M., and J.S.D. degrees in...
in 1871. He practiced law in New York until 1876, when he moved to Richmond, Indiana
Richmond, Indiana
Richmond is a city largely within Wayne Township, Wayne County, in east central Indiana, United States, which borders Ohio. The city also includes the Richmond Municipal Airport, which is in Boston Township and separated from the rest of the city...
, and married Mary Taylor Reeves .
Foulke became involved in local politics and was elected to the Indiana State Senate from 1882 to 1886. As a senator, he introduced bills to reform the state’s civil service system . In addition, he investigated abuses against inmates and employees at the state hospital for the insane . He served on the Platform Committee of the Progressive Party
Progressive Party
- East Asia :* Progressive Party , a party founded in 1913 as a merger between three parties in the National Assembly of the Republic of China* Democratic Progressive Party, a major party in the Republic of China...
. In 1889 he was asked by the National Civil Service Reform League to investigate the U.S. Federal civil service. President Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
appointed Foulke a Commissioner in the Civil Service Commission in 1901 .
He was also one of the early presidents of the American Woman Suffrage Association, the first president of the Proportional Representation League, and (for five years) president of the National Municipal League .
As a writer, Foulke wrote on a number of diverse subjects. In 1898, he published a biography of Oliver Hazard Perry Morton
Oliver Hazard Perry Morton
Oliver Hazard Perry Throck Morton , commonly known as Oliver P. Morton, was a U.S. Republican Party politician from Indiana. He served as the 14th Governor of Indiana during the American Civil War, and was a stalwart ally of President Abraham Lincoln. During the war, Morton suppressed the...
. Later, he translated the medieval History of The Lombards
Lombards
The Lombards , also referred to as Longobards, were a Germanic tribe of Scandinavian origin, who from 568 to 774 ruled a Kingdom in Italy...
by Paul the Deacon
Paul the Deacon
Paul the Deacon , also known as Paulus Diaconus, Warnefred, Barnefridus and Cassinensis, , was a Benedictine monk and historian of the Lombards.-Life:...
. Other works include Biographical Introduction to Some Love Poems of Petrarch
Petrarch
Francesco Petrarca , known in English as Petrarch, was an Italian scholar, poet and one of the earliest humanists. Petrarch is often called the "Father of Humanism"...
(1916).
Some of his poems include Honor to France. Foulke wrote two memoirs: Fighting the Spoilsmen (1919), where he recounted his career in fighting for civil service reform. There followed a more general reminiscences, A Hoosier Autobiography (1922).
Friend of Russian Freedom
Foulke was interested in Russia and Russian history since 1880s. He was scared by the encroachments of Russian Empire in Central Asia and in the Far East. He supposed that Russian ambitious foreign politics would be a great menace to "free Institutions". In 1887 he published a pamphlet "Slav or Saxon", showing aggressive intentions of Tzarist regime. In that time he also protested against the ratification of Russian-American Extradion treaty, but all efforts were in vain. In 1893 the treaty was ratified.In 1903 Foulke became the president of the Society of Friends of Russian Freedom. The society was reestablished in Boston by Alice Stone Blackwell. As Foulke recalled, "this association had no very definite organisation, but acted as occasion offered". Foulke and other notable Americans (Blackwell, Wald, Howe, Addams), who endorsed Russian revolutionists and liberals in their fighting against the autocracy, encouraged Russian emigre Breshko-Breskovskaya in 1904-1905, when she arrived in the USA for tapping moral support and some money.