US Congressman. He was a prominent Philadelphia businessman and political boss before being elected as a Democrat to represent Pennsylvania's 1st District in the United States House of Representatives in an 1862 campaign that defeated former Philadelphia Mayor Richard Vaux for the seat. Sworn in on March 4, 1863, he was only in office for a few months when the safety of Pennsylvania was threatened by the invasion of Confederate forces under General Robert E. Lee during the June-July 1863 Gettysburg Campaign. As Captain and commander of the famed 1st Philadelphia City Troop militia company, he assumed active command of the unit in the field when it was federalized for service in the Union Army in June 1863. Briefly serving as Provost Marshal of Gettysburg before the battle took place, he rendered invaluable service when he directed the defense of the river bridge in Wrightsville, Pennsylvania, eventually burning it to stop Confederate forces from crossing it. During the actual battle he was serving as Provost Marshal of Columbia, Pennsylvania. When the threat of invasion subsided after the rebel defeat at Gettysburg, he was mustered out of active service in August 1863, and resumed his Congressional seat. He went on to serve in Congress for the next 27 years, ending only with his death in office in 1890. He represented the 1st Congressional District of Pennsylvania from 1863 until 1875, then the 3rd Congressional District from 1975 until 1890. From 1876 until 1881 he served as the 33rd Speaker of the House of Representatives.
US Congressman. He was a prominent Philadelphia businessman and political boss before being elected as a Democrat to represent Pennsylvania's 1st District in the United States House of Representatives in an 1862 campaign that defeated former Philadelphia Mayor Richard Vaux for the seat. Sworn in on March 4, 1863, he was only in office for a few months when the safety of Pennsylvania was threatened by the invasion of Confederate forces under General Robert E. Lee during the June-July 1863 Gettysburg Campaign. As Captain and commander of the famed 1st Philadelphia City Troop militia company, he assumed active command of the unit in the field when it was federalized for service in the Union Army in June 1863. Briefly serving as Provost Marshal of Gettysburg before the battle took place, he rendered invaluable service when he directed the defense of the river bridge in Wrightsville, Pennsylvania, eventually burning it to stop Confederate forces from crossing it. During the actual battle he was serving as Provost Marshal of Columbia, Pennsylvania. When the threat of invasion subsided after the rebel defeat at Gettysburg, he was mustered out of active service in August 1863, and resumed his Congressional seat. He went on to serve in Congress for the next 27 years, ending only with his death in office in 1890. He represented the 1st Congressional District of Pennsylvania from 1863 until 1875, then the 3rd Congressional District from 1975 until 1890. From 1876 until 1881 he served as the 33rd Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Bio by: RPD2
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