Joseph Ripley Chandler | |
|---|---|
 | |
| United States Ambassador to the Two Sicilies | |
| In office June 15, 1858 – November 15, 1860 | |
| President | James Buchanan |
| Preceded by | Robert Dale Owen |
| Succeeded by | Embassy closed |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromPennsylvania's2nd district | |
| In office March 4, 1849 – March 3, 1855 | |
| Preceded by | Joseph R. Ingersoll |
| Succeeded by | Job R. Tyson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1792-08-22)August 22, 1792 |
| Died | July 10, 1880(1880-07-10) (aged 87) |
| Political party | Whig |
Joseph Ripley Chandler (August 22, 1792 – July 10, 1880) was aWhig member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromPennsylvania.
Joseph R. Chandler was born inKingston, Massachusetts. He was engaged in commercial work inBoston, Massachusetts, and moved toPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1815. He founded a young ladies' seminary and worked as editor of theUnited States Gazette from 1822 to 1847.[1] For a short time, he was an editorial assistant atGraham's Magazine in 1848.[2]
Chandler was a member of thePhiladelphia City Council from 1832 to 1848, and a member of the State constitutional convention in 1837. He was elected as a Whig to theThirty-first,Thirty-second, andThirty-third Congresses. He was a leading opponent of theKansas-Nebraska Act.[3]
In1854, Chandler, who had recently converted to Catholicism, failed to receive a single vote for renomination at the 2nd District Whig convention, andJob Roberts Tyson was nominated instead. Chandler was nominated by the Independent Whigs of the Second Congressional District, who were opposed to theKnow Nothing influence on the Whig Party. Chandler finished a distant third behind Tyson and Democrat John Hamilton. During a lame duck session of the Thirty-third Congress, he delivered an address defending American Catholics against the Know Nothings.[3]
In 1855, Chandler joined theDemocratic Party, but never again ran for elected office.[3] He was appointed by PresidentJames Buchanan asMinister to theTwo Sicilies and served from June 15, 1858, to November 15, 1860.[4]
Chandler's first wife, Mary, died in 1832. On July 3, 1833, he married Anna Maria Holton Jones, aCatholic originally fromBaltimore. Raised as aBaptist, Chandler converted to the Catholic Church after the 1852 election. His conversion is cited bySaint Joseph's University professor of history Frank Gerrity as the reason for his failed reelection in 1854.[3]
Prior to joining the Catholic church, Chandler was afreemason and served asgrand master of theGrand Lodge of Pennsylvania from 1841 to 1842.[5]
Chandler served as president of the board of directors ofGirard College. He became interested inprison reform and was a delegate to theInternational Prison Congress held atLondon in 1872. He died in 1880 in Philadelphia, where he was interred inNew Cathedral Cemetery.
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromPennsylvania's 2nd congressional district 1849–1855 | Succeeded by |
| Diplomatic posts | ||
| Preceded by | United States Ambassador (asMinister Resident) to theTwo Sicilies 1858–1860 | Succeeded by Embassy closed |
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| Minister Resident | |
| Chargé d'Affaires | |
| Minister Resident | |
| Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary | |
| Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary | |
| Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary | |
| International | |
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| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
