US Senator, American Civil War Medal of Honor Recipient. He was issued the award on July 9, 1888 for his actions as a colonel with the 134th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment, US Army, on December 13, 1862, at the Battle of Fredericksburg, Virginia. Prior to the start of the American Civil War, he studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1854 and opened a legal practice. In 1862 he was given the rank of colonel and placed in command of the 134th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment which participated in the Battle of Fredericksburg. Following the battle, he left the US Army for medical reasons and returned home and became active as a member of the Republican Party n stare politics, serving in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1865 to 1867. From 1886 until 1887 he was the Pennsylvania State Treasurer and from 1888 until 1891 he served as the Chair of the Republican National Committee, In 1897 he was elected to the US Senate by the state legislature but left office in 1899 amid a charge of misappropriating state funds, of which he was acquitted. In January 1901 he won election again to the US Senate and died in office three years later at the age of 70. His Medal of Honor citation reads: "Although out of service, he voluntarily resumed duty on the eve of battle and took a conspicuous part in the charge on the heights."
US Senator, American Civil War Medal of Honor Recipient. He was issued the award on July 9, 1888 for his actions as a colonel with the 134th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment, US Army, on December 13, 1862, at the Battle of Fredericksburg, Virginia. Prior to the start of the American Civil War, he studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1854 and opened a legal practice. In 1862 he was given the rank of colonel and placed in command of the 134th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment which participated in the Battle of Fredericksburg. Following the battle, he left the US Army for medical reasons and returned home and became active as a member of the Republican Party n stare politics, serving in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1865 to 1867. From 1886 until 1887 he was the Pennsylvania State Treasurer and from 1888 until 1891 he served as the Chair of the Republican National Committee, In 1897 he was elected to the US Senate by the state legislature but left office in 1899 amid a charge of misappropriating state funds, of which he was acquitted. In January 1901 he won election again to the US Senate and died in office three years later at the age of 70. His Medal of Honor citation reads: "Although out of service, he voluntarily resumed duty on the eve of battle and took a conspicuous part in the charge on the heights."
Bio by: William Bjornstad
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