David M. Key | |
|---|---|
 Key, 1865–1880 | |
| Judge of theUnited States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee Judge of theUnited States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee | |
| In office May 27, 1880 – January 21, 1895 | |
| Appointed by | Rutherford B. Hayes |
| Preceded by | Connally Findlay Trigg |
| Succeeded by | Charles Dickens Clark |
| 27thUnited States Postmaster General | |
| In office March 12, 1877 – June 2, 1880 | |
| President | Rutherford B. Hayes |
| Preceded by | James Noble Tyner |
| Succeeded by | Horace Maynard |
| United States Senator fromTennessee | |
| In office August 18, 1875 – January 19, 1877 | |
| Appointed by | James D. Porter |
| Preceded by | Andrew Johnson |
| Succeeded by | James E. Bailey |
| Personal details | |
| Born | David McKendree Key (1824-01-27)January 27, 1824 Greeneville, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Died | February 3, 1900(1900-02-03) (aged 76) Chattanooga, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Resting place | Forest Hill Cemetery Chattanooga, Tennessee |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | Hiwassee College University of Tennessee (A.M.) read law |
| Signature |  |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Confederate States |
| Branch/service |  Confederate States Army |
| Years of service | 1861–1865 |
| Rank |  Lieutenant colonel |
| Unit |  43rd Tennessee Regiment |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
David McKendree Key (January 27, 1824 – February 3, 1900) was aUnited States senator fromTennessee,United States Postmaster General and aUnited States district judge of theUnited States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee and theUnited States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee.
Born on January 27, 1824, nearGreeneville, inGreene County,Tennessee,[1] Key attended the common schools, then graduated fromHiwassee College in 1850 andread law the same year.[1] He received anArtium Magister degree from East Tennessee University (now theUniversity of Tennessee).[1] He was admitted to the bar and entered private practice inMadisonville, Tennessee from 1850 to 1852.[1] He continued private practice inKingston, Tennessee from 1852 to 1853, and inChattanooga, Tennessee from 1853 to 1861.[1] He was a Presidential Elector on the Democratic ticket in 1856 and 1860.[2] He served in theConfederate States Army from 1861 to 1865, during theAmerican Civil War and was promoted to lieutenant colonel of the Forty-third Tennessee Infantry.[2] He resumed private practice in Chattanooga from 1865 to 1880.[1] He was a member of the Tennessee constitutional convention in 1870.[2] He was Chancellor for the Tennessee Chancery Court for the Third Judicial District from 1870 to 1875.[1] He was an unsuccessful Democratic candidate for election to theUnited States House of Representatives of the43rd United States Congress.[2]
Key was appointed as aDemocrat to theUnited States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of formerPresident of the United States andUnited States SenatorAndrew Johnson and served from August 18, 1875, to January 19, 1877.[2] He was an unsuccessful candidate for election to fill the vacancy in 1876.[2]
Key served asPostmaster General of the United States in the cabinet of PresidentRutherford B. Hayes from 1877 to 1880.[1]Federal judicial service
Key was nominated by PresidentRutherford B. Hayes on May 19, 1880, to a joint seat on theUnited States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee and theUnited States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee vacated by JudgeConnally Findlay Trigg.[1] He was confirmed by theUnited States Senate on May 27, 1880, and received his commission the same day.[1] His service terminated on January 21, 1895, due to his retirement.[1]
Key died on February 3, 1900, in Chattanooga.[1] He was interred in Forest Hill Cemetery in Chattanooga.[2]
| U.S. Senate | ||
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| Preceded by | United States Senator (Class 1) from Tennessee 1875–1877 Served alongside:Henry Cooper | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | United States Postmaster General 1877–1880 | Succeeded by |
| Legal offices | ||
| Preceded by | Judge of theUnited States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee Judge of theUnited States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee 1880–1895 | Succeeded by |
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| Class 2 | ||
| Secretary of State |
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| Secretary of the Treasury |
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| Secretary of War |
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| Attorney General |
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| Postmaster General |
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| Secretary of the Navy |
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| Secretary of the Interior |
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| International | |
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| People | |
| Other | |
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