He was elected to Congress in 1864 as a War Democrat, having vigorously opposed the Copperhead element in his district. He won the praise of Republican Governor Oliver P. Morton for helping suppress illegal conspiracies by Copperheads.[1]
Kerr served in the United States House of Representatives as a Democrat from Indiana from 1865 to 1873. In Congress he was looked upon as one of the leaders of the Democratic Party. He strongly opposed the Republican policy of Reconstruction in the Southern States. He was not re-elected in 1872.
His hard money views on financial questions did not meet with favor in his agrarian constituency, where he openly antagonized the inflationists and the Greenback element and favored the resumption of specie payments. In 1874, however, after a sharp contest he won the seat back, and on his re-entry into Congress was elected to the speakership. He presided as Speaker at only the first session of the Forty-fourth Congress and died of consumption shortly after its adjournment.
michael, kerr, other, people, named, michael, kerr, michael, kerr, disambiguation, michael, crawford, kerr, march, 1827, august, 1876, indiana, attorney, american, legislator, first, democratic, speaker, united, states, house, representatives, after, civil, 28. For other people named Michael Kerr see Michael Kerr disambiguation Michael Crawford Kerr March 15 1827 August 19 1876 of Indiana was an attorney an American legislator and the first Democratic speaker of the United States House of Representatives after the Civil War Michael C Kerr28th Speaker of the United States House of RepresentativesIn office December 6 1875 August 19 1876Preceded byJames G BlaineSucceeded bySamuel J RandallLeader of the House Democratic CaucusIn office December 6 1875 August 19 1876Preceded byJames Lawrence OrrSucceeded bySamuel J RandallMember of the U S House of Representatives from Indiana s 3rd districtIn office March 4 1875 August 19 1876Preceded byWilliam S Holman 3rd Succeeded byNathan T Carr 3rd Member of the U S House of Representatives from Indiana s 2nd districtIn office March 4 1865 March 3 1873Preceded byJames A CravensSucceeded bySimeon K WolfeMember of the Indiana House of RepresentativesIn office 1856 1857Personal detailsBornMichael Crawford KerrMarch 15 1827Titusville PennsylvaniaDiedAugust 19 1876 aged 49 Rockbridge County VirginiaPolitical partyDemocraticAlma materUniversity of LouisvilleProfessionLawyerKerr s home in New Albany Indiana Contents 1 Early life 2 Political career 3 See also 4 Notes 5 Bibliography 6 External linksEarly life editHe was born at Titusville Pennsylvania and educated at the Erie Academy He graduated from the University of Louisville School of Law in 1851 He moved to New Albany Indiana in 1852 and was a member of the State Legislature from 1856 to 1857 Political career editHe was elected to Congress in 1864 as a War Democrat having vigorously opposed the Copperhead element in his district He won the praise of Republican Governor Oliver P Morton for helping suppress illegal conspiracies by Copperheads 1 Kerr served in the United States House of Representatives as a Democrat from Indiana from 1865 to 1873 In Congress he was looked upon as one of the leaders of the Democratic Party He strongly opposed the Republican policy of Reconstruction in the Southern States He was not re elected in 1872 His hard money views on financial questions did not meet with favor in his agrarian constituency where he openly antagonized the inflationists and the Greenback element and favored the resumption of specie payments In 1874 however after a sharp contest he won the seat back and on his re entry into Congress was elected to the speakership He presided as Speaker at only the first session of the Forty fourth Congress and died of consumption shortly after its adjournment See also editList of United States Congress members who died in office 1790 1899 Notes edit Jacob Piatt Dunn Indiana and Indianans 1919 vol 2 p 651 2 onlineBibliography editHalsell Willie D ed Advice from Michael C Kerr to a Reconstructed Rebel Congressman Indiana Magazine of History 33 September 1941 257 61 Smith William Henry The history of the state of Indiana 1897 p 798 800 online Stampp Kenneth Indiana politics during the Civil War 1949 External links editOriginal newspaper broadsheet in the collection of the State Archives in Indianapolis Michael C Kerr at Find a GravePolitical officesPreceded byJames G Blaine Speaker of the U S House of RepresentativesDecember 6 1875 August 19 1876 Succeeded bySamuel J RandallU S House of RepresentativesPreceded byJames A Cravens Member of the U S House of Representatives from Indiana s 2nd congressional districtMarch 4 1865 March 3 1873 Succeeded bySimeon K WolfePreceded byWilliam S Holman Member of the U S House of Representatives from Indiana s 3rd congressional districtMarch 4 1875 August 19 1876 Succeeded byNathan T Carr Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Michael C Kerr amp oldid 1214195095, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
