James E. English | |
|---|---|
 English, 1865–1880 | |
| United States Senator fromConnecticut | |
| In office November 27, 1875 – May 17, 1876 | |
| Appointed by | Charles Roberts Ingersoll |
| Preceded by | Orris S. Ferry |
| Succeeded by | William H. Barnum |
| 45th Governor of Connecticut | |
| In office May 4, 1870 – May 16, 1871 | |
| Lieutenant | Julius Hotchkiss |
| Preceded by | Marshall Jewell |
| Succeeded by | Marshall Jewell |
| 43rd Governor of Connecticut | |
| In office May 1, 1867 – May 5, 1869 | |
| Lieutenant | Ephraim H. Hyde |
| Preceded by | Joseph R. Hawley |
| Succeeded by | Marshall Jewell |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromConnecticut's2nd district | |
| In office March 4, 1861 – March 3, 1865 | |
| Preceded by | John Woodruff |
| Succeeded by | Samuel L. Warner |
| Member of theConnecticut Senate | |
| In office 1856–1858 | |
| Member of theConnecticut House of Representatives | |
| In office 1855 1872 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | James Edward English March 13, 1812 New Haven, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Died | March 2, 1890(1890-03-02) (aged 77) New Haven, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | -Caroline A. Fowler English, Anna Robinson Morris English |
| Children | 4 |
| Profession | Politician, banker,lumberman, manufacturer |
James Edward English (March 13, 1812 – March 2, 1890) was aUnited States representative and laterU.S. senator fromConnecticut, andgovernor of Connecticut.
English was born inNew Haven, Connecticut, and attended the common schools. An apprentice carpenter at the age of 16, he became a successful businessman, establishing the English and Welch Lumber Company, and restructuring the New Haven Clock Company into one of the largest clock manufacturers.[1] He was twice married, to Caroline A. Fowler and to Anna Robinson Morris. He had four children.
English engaged in thelumber business, banking, and manufacturing. He was a member of the New Haven board ofselectmen from 1847 to 1861, and a member of the common council in 1848 and 1849. He was a member of theConnecticut House of Representatives in 1855 and of theConnecticut Senate from 1856 to 1858, and was an unsuccessful candidate forlieutenant governor in 1860.
English was elected as aDemocrat to the Thirty-seventh and Thirty-eighth Congresses, serving from March 4, 1861, to March 3, 1865.[2] He was not a candidate for renomination in 1864.
He left his ill wife to vote at the U.S. Capitol, where, despite being a Democrat, he voted in favor of theThirteenth Amendment abolishing slavery in 1864. His "aye" prompted applause "and the tide turned." He later remarked that voting for the Amendment ruined his standing among Democrats, but he thought it the right thing to do, saying "I suppose I am politically ruined, but that day was the happiest of my life."[3] However, his reservation was not to be, as he had a fairly successful career afterwards.
Unsuccessful in his 1866 gubernatorial bid, English was elected Connecticut's 26th governor on April 1, 1867,[4] serving from May 1, 1867, to May 5, 1869. He waselected again in 1868. He lost hisreelection in 1869, but waselected as governor again in 1870 and served from May 4, 1870, to May 16, 1871. During his tenure, an argument between the railroad and shipping industries was settled with the approval for construction of two new bridges. English ran again forreelection in 1871, and won the popular vote, but a canvassing committee found the election was fraudulent with stolen votes and erroneous totals, and awarded the governorship to Marshall Jewell.
English received votes for President at the1868 Democratic National Convention, reaching a peak of 16 votes from New England delegates on the first ballot; most of English's votes during the Convention came from his home state of Connecticut.
English was elected again in 1872 to serve in the Connecticut House of Representatives. He was appointed as a Democrat to the U.S. Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death ofOrris S. Ferry and served from November 27, 1875, to May 17, 1876, when a successor was elected.[5]
An unsuccessful candidate for election in 1876 to fill the vacancy, English resumed his manufacturing and commercial activities.
English died in New Haven March 2, 1890 (age 77 years, 354 days), and is interred atEvergreen Cemetery, New Haven, Connecticut.[7]
| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Democratic nominee forGovernor of Connecticut 1866,1867,1868,1869,1870,1871 | Succeeded by Richard D. Hubbard |
| Preceded by | Democratic nominee forGovernor of Connecticut 1880 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromConnecticut's 2nd congressional district March 4, 1861 – March 3, 1865 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Governor of Connecticut 1867–1869 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Governor of Connecticut 1870–1871 | |
| U.S. Senate | ||
| Preceded by | U.S. senator (Class 3) from Connecticut November 27, 1875 – May 17, 1876 Served alongside:William W. Eaton | Succeeded by |
| Class 1 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 3 | ||
This article incorporatespublic domain material fromBiographical Directory of the United States Congress.Federal government of the United States.
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