Frederic T. Greenhalge
Encyclopedia
Frederic Thomas Greenhalge (born Frederic Thomas Greenhalgh) (July 19, 1842 – March 5, 1896) was born in Clitheroe
, England
and immigrated with his parents to the United States in early childhood. His father William was a cloth printer and worked for a textile company after he immigrated.
He attended the public schools of Lowell, Massachusetts
and then Harvard University
from 1859 to 1862; he quit school and returned home after his father died. He taught school in Chelmsford, Massachusetts
and studied law. During the Civil War
he served with the Union Army in New Bern, North Carolina
for five months. He was admitted to the bar in Lowell in 1865 and served in the common council of Lowell in 1868 and 1869. He then became a member of the school committee in 1871, holding that post until 1873. He had a private legal practice and was also a judge in the Lowell Police Court from 1874 to 1884.
On October 1, 1872, Greenhalge married Isabella (or Isabel) Nesmith, and they had three children: Nesmith Greenhalge (1873–1874), Frederic B. Greenhalge (1875–?), and Harriet Nesmith Greenhalge (1878–?).
He was then mayor of Lowell in 1880 and 1881 and an unsuccessful candidate for election to the Massachusetts Senate
in 1881. He was a delegate to the Republican National Convention
in 1884 and a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
in 1885 but was unsuccessful in his bid for reelection. He became city solicitor in 1888, practicing law in Middlesex
and other counties. He was elected as a Republican
to the Fifty-first Congress, serving from March 4, 1889 to March 3, 1891 but failed in 1890 to be re-elected to Congress. However, he was subsequently elected the 38th Governor of Massachusetts
after a ferocious 1893 campaign and served from January 1894 until his death in Lowell. While governor, the Commonwealth paid off its last public debt and he proclaimed the first Patriots' Day
, ending the 200-year-old Fast Day
celebration in Massachusetts. Perhaps his greatest test in office came in February 1894 when an angry mob of 5,000 gathered in front of the State House to demand unemployment subsidies; he came out of his office to address them and promise them relief, whereupon their anger subsided. Frederic Thomas Greenhalge died in office on March 5, 1896; businesses and schools closed in his honor. At his funeral Senator Henry Cabot Lodge
and Harvard President Charles William Eliot
served as pallbearers; he is buried in Lowell Cemetery
.
Clitheroe
Clitheroe is a town and civil parish in the Borough of Ribble Valley in Lancashire, England. It is 1½ miles from the Forest of Bowland and is often used as a base for tourists in the area. It has a population of 14,697...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and immigrated with his parents to the United States in early childhood. His father William was a cloth printer and worked for a textile company after he immigrated.
He attended the public schools of Lowell, Massachusetts
Lowell, Massachusetts
Lowell is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA. According to the 2010 census, the city's population was 106,519. It is the fourth largest city in the state. Lowell and Cambridge are the county seats of Middlesex County...
and then Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
from 1859 to 1862; he quit school and returned home after his father died. He taught school in Chelmsford, Massachusetts
Chelmsford, Massachusetts
Chelmsford is a suburban town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts in the Greater Boston area. As of the 2010 United States Census, the town's population was 33,802. The Census Bureau's 2008 population estimate for the town was 34,409, ranking it 14th in population among the 54 municipalities in...
and studied law. During the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
he served with the Union Army in New Bern, North Carolina
New Bern, North Carolina
New Bern is a city in Craven County, North Carolina with a population of 29,524 as of the 2010 census.. It is located at the confluence of the Trent and the Neuse rivers...
for five months. He was admitted to the bar in Lowell in 1865 and served in the common council of Lowell in 1868 and 1869. He then became a member of the school committee in 1871, holding that post until 1873. He had a private legal practice and was also a judge in the Lowell Police Court from 1874 to 1884.
On October 1, 1872, Greenhalge married Isabella (or Isabel) Nesmith, and they had three children: Nesmith Greenhalge (1873–1874), Frederic B. Greenhalge (1875–?), and Harriet Nesmith Greenhalge (1878–?).
He was then mayor of Lowell in 1880 and 1881 and an unsuccessful candidate for election to the Massachusetts Senate
Massachusetts Senate
The Massachusetts Senate is the upper house of the Massachusetts General Court, the bicameral state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Senate comprises 40 elected members from 40 single-member senatorial districts in the state...
in 1881. He was a delegate to the Republican National Convention
Republican National Convention
The Republican National Convention is the presidential nominating convention of the Republican Party of the United States. Convened by the Republican National Committee, the stated purpose of the convocation is to nominate an official candidate in an upcoming U.S...
in 1884 and a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
Massachusetts House of Representatives
The Massachusetts House of Representatives is the lower house of the Massachusetts General Court, the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is composed of 160 members elected from single-member electoral districts across the Commonwealth. Representatives serve two-year terms...
in 1885 but was unsuccessful in his bid for reelection. He became city solicitor in 1888, practicing law in Middlesex
Middlesex County, Massachusetts
-National protected areas:* Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge* Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge* Longfellow National Historic Site* Lowell National Historical Park* Minute Man National Historical Park* Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge...
and other counties. He was elected as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
to the Fifty-first Congress, serving from March 4, 1889 to March 3, 1891 but failed in 1890 to be re-elected to Congress. However, he was subsequently elected the 38th Governor of Massachusetts
Governor of Massachusetts
The Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is the executive magistrate of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, United States. The current governor is Democrat Deval Patrick.-Constitutional role:...
after a ferocious 1893 campaign and served from January 1894 until his death in Lowell. While governor, the Commonwealth paid off its last public debt and he proclaimed the first Patriots' Day
Patriots' Day
Patriots' Day is a civic holiday commemorating the anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the first battles of the American Revolutionary War...
, ending the 200-year-old Fast Day
Fast Day
Fast Day was a holiday observed in some parts of the United States between 1670 and 1991."A day of public fasting and prayer", it was traditionally observed in the New England states. It had its origin in days of prayer and repentance proclaimed in the early days of the American colonies by Royal...
celebration in Massachusetts. Perhaps his greatest test in office came in February 1894 when an angry mob of 5,000 gathered in front of the State House to demand unemployment subsidies; he came out of his office to address them and promise them relief, whereupon their anger subsided. Frederic Thomas Greenhalge died in office on March 5, 1896; businesses and schools closed in his honor. At his funeral Senator Henry Cabot Lodge
Henry Cabot Lodge
Henry Cabot "Slim" Lodge was an American Republican Senator and historian from Massachusetts. He had the role of Senate Majority leader. He is best known for his positions on Meek policy, especially his battle with President Woodrow Wilson in 1919 over the Treaty of Versailles...
and Harvard President Charles William Eliot
Charles William Eliot
Charles William Eliot was an American academic who was selected as Harvard's president in 1869. He transformed the provincial college into the preeminent American research university...
served as pallbearers; he is buried in Lowell Cemetery
Lowell Cemetery
Lowell Cemetery is a cemetery located in Lowell, Massachusetts. Founded in 1841 and located on the banks of the Concord River, the cemetery is one of the oldest garden cemeteries in the nation, inspired by Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, Massachusetts...
.