He was appointed an assistant clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives in 1833, and at once resigned his position in New Hampshire and removed his family to this city. He held the situation of chief clerk under Mr. Garland and Col. McNulty, and when the latter left the office of Clerk of the House, on the 18th of January, 1845, the deceased was elected to that office. He was also unanimously re-elected by the next and several succeeding Congresses. He was appointed Commissioner of Public Buildings under President Pierce, and again under President Lincoln's administration, continuing in that office until it was abolished under President Johnson's administration in 1868, since which time, until the first of July, he was employed in the Treasury Department until a few weeks since, when he resigned. Major F. evinced considerable talent as a poet. General Schenck, of Ohio, it will be remembered, had the office of Commissioner of Public Building (which Major F. held) abolished in an appropriation bill under President Johnson's administration, styling the deceased "The Poet Laureate of the Administration," he having a short while before published some verses laudatory of the President under the title "Andrew Jackson and Andrew Johnson." During his long residence in this city, besides the National offices of honor and trust he held, Major French was for many years President of the Boards of Alderman and Common Council respectively. He was also member of the Levy Court, and the Oldest Inhabitant's association. He was known throughout the country for his high standing in the Masonic fraternity. He was Grand Master of the District and Past Most Eminent Grand Commander of the Knights Templar of the United States. His title of Major, by which he has always been known, came from the fact of his having held a major's commission in the New Hampshire militia.
He was appointed an assistant clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives in 1833, and at once resigned his position in New Hampshire and removed his family to this city. He held the situation of chief clerk under Mr. Garland and Col. McNulty, and when the latter left the office of Clerk of the House, on the 18th of January, 1845, the deceased was elected to that office. He was also unanimously re-elected by the next and several succeeding Congresses. He was appointed Commissioner of Public Buildings under President Pierce, and again under President Lincoln's administration, continuing in that office until it was abolished under President Johnson's administration in 1868, since which time, until the first of July, he was employed in the Treasury Department until a few weeks since, when he resigned. Major F. evinced considerable talent as a poet. General Schenck, of Ohio, it will be remembered, had the office of Commissioner of Public Building (which Major F. held) abolished in an appropriation bill under President Johnson's administration, styling the deceased "The Poet Laureate of the Administration," he having a short while before published some verses laudatory of the President under the title "Andrew Jackson and Andrew Johnson." During his long residence in this city, besides the National offices of honor and trust he held, Major French was for many years President of the Boards of Alderman and Common Council respectively. He was also member of the Levy Court, and the Oldest Inhabitant's association. He was known throughout the country for his high standing in the Masonic fraternity. He was Grand Master of the District and Past Most Eminent Grand Commander of the Knights Templar of the United States. His title of Major, by which he has always been known, came from the fact of his having held a major's commission in the New Hampshire militia.
