US Senator. He was a Republican United States Senator from New Hampshire and a Presidential Cabinet member. He was the first Assistant Secretary of the Treasury serving from 1865 to 1867. Leading the momentous task of shifting naval construction from wood to steel ships, he served as Secretary of the Navy from April 16, 1882 to March 6, 1885 under President Chester Arthur. He suffered criticism after finding underhanded bidding for shipyard contracts. Starting with fulfilling an unexpired Senate term and then being elected to two terms, he served in the US Senate from 1887 to 1901. After the Senate, he accepted President William McKinley's appointment to the Spanish Treaty Claims Commission. When the term of the commission expired in 1908, he returned to New Hampshire to practice law, ending his political career. After graduating from Harvard Law School in 1854 and being admitted to the bar in 1856, he began a dual career in law and journalism. He was appointed reporter of the New Hampshire Supreme Court, and published five volumes of reports. Beginning his political career in 1862, he was elected to the New Hampshire legislature until 1864. In November of 1864, he entered national politics when President Abraham Lincoln assigned him, as special counsel, to investigate and prosecute fraud in the Philadelphia navy yard. By November of 1867 he had returned to his law practice. He became active with the National Republican Party in the 1868 and 1872 presidential elections. In 1876, he played a major role in swinging, which was by only one electoral vote, the disputed presidential election to Rutherford B. Hayes. With Hayes' appointments being based "upon merit and not politics", he was overlooked and abandoned his earlier political support of Hayes' agenda, especially with Hayes' stance with the Democratic Southern states.
US Senator. He was a Republican United States Senator from New Hampshire and a Presidential Cabinet member. He was the first Assistant Secretary of the Treasury serving from 1865 to 1867. Leading the momentous task of shifting naval construction from wood to steel ships, he served as Secretary of the Navy from April 16, 1882 to March 6, 1885 under President Chester Arthur. He suffered criticism after finding underhanded bidding for shipyard contracts. Starting with fulfilling an unexpired Senate term and then being elected to two terms, he served in the US Senate from 1887 to 1901. After the Senate, he accepted President William McKinley's appointment to the Spanish Treaty Claims Commission. When the term of the commission expired in 1908, he returned to New Hampshire to practice law, ending his political career. After graduating from Harvard Law School in 1854 and being admitted to the bar in 1856, he began a dual career in law and journalism. He was appointed reporter of the New Hampshire Supreme Court, and published five volumes of reports. Beginning his political career in 1862, he was elected to the New Hampshire legislature until 1864. In November of 1864, he entered national politics when President Abraham Lincoln assigned him, as special counsel, to investigate and prosecute fraud in the Philadelphia navy yard. By November of 1867 he had returned to his law practice. He became active with the National Republican Party in the 1868 and 1872 presidential elections. In 1876, he played a major role in swinging, which was by only one electoral vote, the disputed presidential election to Rutherford B. Hayes. With Hayes' appointments being based "upon merit and not politics", he was overlooked and abandoned his earlier political support of Hayes' agenda, especially with Hayes' stance with the Democratic Southern states.
Bio by: Linda Davis
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