Augustus Chaflin French (August 2, 1808 – September 4, 1864) was the ninthGovernor of the U.S. state of Illinois from 1846 until 1853. He is best known for his fiscal policies, which eliminated the state's debt by the end of his administration, and for the lack of scandals during his administration. His name also graces the Governor French Academy in Belleville, Illinois.
French was born in Hill, Merrimack County, New Hampshire, the son of Eunice (Dickerson) and Joseph French.[1][2] His father died when he was a child, and he struggled to obtain an education, finally leaving Dartmouth College due to lack of funds. Studying at home, he was admitted to the bar in 1823. He then travelled to Albion, Edwards County, Illinois, but soon moved to Edgar Courthouse (later renamed Paris)[3] in the newly established Edgar County, where he acquired a successful law practice. On his mother's death, he assumed responsibility for his younger siblings.
French entered politics in 1837, first serving a term in the Illinois legislature, then becoming the Receiver of Public Monies (i.e., the receiver of money paid to the U.S. government for land) at Palestine in Crawford County, Illinois, where he took up residence. In 1844 he was a presidential elector for James K. Polk (the winner in that election), and became popular in Illinois politics through his advocacy of a war with Mexico. French was nominated for governor by his party and won the election for governor, taking office in December 1846.
AdministrationEdit
French immediately pushed for the funding to retire the state's debt, an attitude that characterized his entire tenure in office. He saw many of the Mormons leave the state in February 1846 after their city charter at Nauvoo had been revoked the previous year. Two events significant to the growth of Chicago occurred during French's term of office: the Illinois and Michigan Canal was completed, and the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad was begun. The canal connected the Illinois River (and thus, the Mississippi River) with the Great Lakes, while the railroad connected Chicago with the lead Mining|mines in Galena, Illinois (it would be completed in 1853).
A new state constitution was adopted in 1848, and among its changes from the 1818 constitution were new provisions for the election and terms of office for the state governor. French was unanimously renominated for the office by his party, and easily won re-election. He continued his efforts to reduce the state's debt, and by the time he left office in 1853, the entire deficit had been eliminated.[4]
Later lifeEdit
After his retirement from government, French would continue his public service as a bank commissioner (appointed to that position by his successor, Governor Matteson), and then relocated to Lebanon in St. Clair County, Illinois, where he became a Professor of Law at McKendree College.
In 1858 he ran for State Superintendent of Public Instruction as the nominee of the Douglas wing of his party, but was defeated. He was a delegate to the unproductive Illinois Constitutional Convention of 1862, which became known as the "Copperhead Convention" for its anti-war stance during the Civil War.
Augustus French died September 4, 1864, in Lebanon, and was buried there in College Hill Cemetery.[2]
BibliographyEdit
The National Cyclopedia of American Biography, vol. XI, New York: James T. White & Company, 1901, pp. 46–47
Bateman, Newton; Selby, Paul, eds. (1912), Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois, vol. I, Chicago: Munsell Publishing Company, pp. 176–77, retrieved April 1, 2008
ReferencesEdit
^Portrait and Biographical Record of Kankakee County, Illinois. Chicago: Lake City Publishing. 1893. pp. 143–144. Retrieved February 16, 2023 – via Google Books.
^ ab"Death of Ex-Gov A. C. French". Daily Missouri Republican. September 12, 1864. p. 2. Retrieved February 16, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
^Adams, James N. (compiler) (1989), Keller, William E. (ed.), Illinois Place Names, Springfield: Illinois State Historical Society, pp. 467, ISBN0-912226-24-2
^Sobel, Robert, and John Raimo, eds. (1978) Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789-1978, Vol. 1. Westport, Conn.: Meckler Books
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Augustus Chaflin French August 2 1808 September 4 1864 was the ninth Governor of the U S state of Illinois from 1846 until 1853 He is best known for his fiscal policies which eliminated the state s debt by the end of his administration and for the lack of scandals during his administration His name also graces the Governor French Academy in Belleville Illinois Augustus C French9th Governor of IllinoisIn office December 9 1846 January 10 1853LieutenantJoseph WellsWilliam McMurtryPreceded byThomas FordSucceeded byJoel Aldrich MattesonPersonal detailsBornAugustus Chaflin French 1808 08 02 August 2 1808Hill New HampshireDiedSeptember 4 1864 1864 09 04 aged 56 Lebanon IllinoisPolitical partyDemocraticSpouseLucy SouthwickResidence s Crawford County St Clair CountyAlma maternone self taught OccupationAttorney Professor of LawProfessionPoliticianSignature Contents 1 Early life and political rise 2 Administration 3 Later life 4 Bibliography 5 ReferencesEarly life and political rise EditFrench was born in Hill Merrimack County New Hampshire the son of Eunice Dickerson and Joseph French 1 2 His father died when he was a child and he struggled to obtain an education finally leaving Dartmouth College due to lack of funds Studying at home he was admitted to the bar in 1823 He then travelled to Albion Edwards County Illinois but soon moved to Edgar Courthouse later renamed Paris 3 in the newly established Edgar County where he acquired a successful law practice On his mother s death he assumed responsibility for his younger siblings French entered politics in 1837 first serving a term in the Illinois legislature then becoming the Receiver of Public Monies i e the receiver of money paid to the U S government for land at Palestine in Crawford County Illinois where he took up residence In 1844 he was a presidential elector for James K Polk the winner in that election and became popular in Illinois politics through his advocacy of a war with Mexico French was nominated for governor by his party and won the election for governor taking office in December 1846 Administration EditFrench immediately pushed for the funding to retire the state s debt an attitude that characterized his entire tenure in office He saw many of the Mormons leave the state in February 1846 after their city charter at Nauvoo had been revoked the previous year Two events significant to the growth of Chicago occurred during French s term of office the Illinois and Michigan Canal was completed and the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad was begun The canal connected the Illinois River and thus the Mississippi River with the Great Lakes while the railroad connected Chicago with the lead Mining mines in Galena Illinois it would be completed in 1853 A new state constitution was adopted in 1848 and among its changes from the 1818 constitution were new provisions for the election and terms of office for the state governor French was unanimously renominated for the office by his party and easily won re election He continued his efforts to reduce the state s debt and by the time he left office in 1853 the entire deficit had been eliminated 4 Later life EditAfter his retirement from government French would continue his public service as a bank commissioner appointed to that position by his successor Governor Matteson and then relocated to Lebanon in St Clair County Illinois where he became a Professor of Law at McKendree College In 1858 he ran for State Superintendent of Public Instruction as the nominee of the Douglas wing of his party but was defeated He was a delegate to the unproductive Illinois Constitutional Convention of 1862 which became known as the Copperhead Convention for its anti war stance during the Civil War Augustus French died September 4 1864 in Lebanon and was buried there in College Hill Cemetery 2 Bibliography EditThe National Cyclopedia of American Biography vol XI New York James T White amp Company 1901 pp 46 47 Bateman Newton Selby Paul eds 1912 Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois vol I Chicago Munsell Publishing Company pp 176 77 retrieved April 1 2008References Edit Portrait and Biographical Record of Kankakee County Illinois Chicago Lake City Publishing 1893 pp 143 144 Retrieved February 16 2023 via Google Books a b Death of Ex Gov A C French Daily Missouri Republican September 12 1864 p 2 Retrieved February 16 2023 via Newspapers com Adams James N compiler 1989 Keller William E ed Illinois Place Names Springfield Illinois State Historical Society pp 467 ISBN 0 912226 24 2 Sobel Robert and John Raimo eds 1978 Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States 1789 1978 Vol 1 Westport Conn Meckler Books Party political officesPreceded byThomas Ford Democratic nominee for Governor of Illinois1846 1848 Succeeded byJoel Aldrich MattesonPolitical officesPreceded byThomas Ford Governor of Illinois1846 1853 Succeeded byJoel Aldrich Matteson Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Augustus C French amp oldid 1139789501, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
