George F. Edmunds
Encyclopedia
George Franklin Edmunds was a Republican
U.S.
Senator
from Vermont
from 1866 to 1891.
Born in Richmond, Vermont
, Edmunds attended common schools and was privately tutored as a child. After being admitted to the bar in 1849, he started a law practice in Burlington, Vermont
. He became active in politics when he was elected to the Vermont House of Representatives
which he served as a member of from 1854 to 1859, also serving as Speaker of the House
for three of those years. He then moved on to the Vermont Senate
of which he served as President pro tempore from 1861 to 1862.
After the death of U.S. Senator
Solomon Foot
in March 1866, Edmunds was appointed to take his place starting in April, a seat in which he would remain in until November 1891, being reelected in 1868, 1874, 1880 and 1886. In the Senate, he took an active part in the attempt to impeach President
Andrew Johnson
in 1868. He was influential in providing for the electoral commission to decide the disputed presidential election of 1876 and served as one of the commissioners, voting for Republicans
Rutherford B. Hayes
and William A. Wheeler
. At the Republican National Convention
s of 1880 and 1884, he was a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination. He was conspicuous on account of his legal and parliamentary attainments, his industry and his liberal opinions. He was the author of the Edmunds Act
for the suppression of polygamy
in Utah
and of the Sherman Antitrust Act
of 1890 to limit monopolies
in the United States
. Edmunds served as President pro tempore of the Senate
from 1883 to 1885, was chairman of the Republican Conference of the Senate
from 1885 to 1891, chairman of the Senate Committee on Pensions from 1869 to 1873, chairman of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary
from 1872 to 1879 and again from 1881 to 1891, chairman of the Senate Committee on Private Land Claims
from 1879 to 1881 and chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
in 1881.
Edmunds resigned from the Senate in 1891 in order to focus on his law practice in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He later retired to Pasadena, California
where he died on February 27, 1919. He was buried in Green Mount Cemetery in Burlington, Vermont
with his wife, Susan Marsh, who died in 1916. George F. Edmunds Middle School, one of two middle schools in Burlington, was named in his honor. Mount Rainier
's Edmunds Glacier
and, despite the spelling, the town of Edmonds, Washington
is named for him.
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...
U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
from Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
from 1866 to 1891.
Born in Richmond, Vermont
Richmond, Vermont
Richmond is a town in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. The 2000 census revealed a population of 4,090.Local students attend Mount Mansfield Union High School, Camel's Hump Middle School, And Richmond Elementary School. Mount Mansfield Union High is in the neighboring town of Jericho...
, Edmunds attended common schools and was privately tutored as a child. After being admitted to the bar in 1849, he started a law practice in Burlington, Vermont
Burlington, Vermont
Burlington is the largest city in the U.S. state of Vermont and the shire town of Chittenden County. Burlington lies south of the U.S.-Canadian border and some south of Montreal....
. He became active in politics when he was elected to the Vermont House of Representatives
Vermont House of Representatives
The Vermont House of Representatives is the lower house of the Vermont General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Vermont. The House comprises 150 members. Vermont legislative districting divides representing districts into 66 single-member districts and 42 two-member...
which he served as a member of from 1854 to 1859, also serving as Speaker of the House
Speaker (politics)
The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
for three of those years. He then moved on to the Vermont Senate
Vermont Senate
The Vermont Senate is the upper house of the Vermont General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Vermont. The Senate consists of 30 members. Senate districting divides the 30 members into three single-member districts, six two-member districts, three three-member districts, and one...
of which he served as President pro tempore from 1861 to 1862.
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
Solomon Foot
Solomon Foot
Solomon Foot was a Vermont lawyer, state representative and later senator who spent more than 25 years in elected office. He graduated from Middlebury College in 1826 and was admitted to the bar in 1831. He served as a state representative briefly in 1833, and also from 1836 to 1838...
in March 1866, Edmunds was appointed to take his place starting in April, a seat in which he would remain in until November 1891, being reelected in 1868, 1874, 1880 and 1886. In the Senate, he took an active part in the attempt to impeach President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson was the 17th President of the United States . As Vice-President of the United States in 1865, he succeeded Abraham Lincoln following the latter's assassination. Johnson then presided over the initial and contentious Reconstruction era of the United States following the American...
in 1868. He was influential in providing for the electoral commission to decide the disputed presidential election of 1876 and served as one of the commissioners, voting for Republicans
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...
Rutherford B. Hayes
Rutherford B. Hayes
Rutherford Birchard Hayes was the 19th President of the United States . As president, he oversaw the end of Reconstruction and the United States' entry into the Second Industrial Revolution...
and William A. Wheeler
William A. Wheeler
William Almon Wheeler was a Representative from New York and the 19th Vice President of the United States .-Early life and career:...
. At 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...
s of 1880 and 1884, he was a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination. He was conspicuous on account of his legal and parliamentary attainments, his industry and his liberal opinions. He was the author of the Edmunds Act
Edmunds Act
The Edmunds Act, also known as the Edmunds Anti-Polygamy Act of 1882, is a United States federal statute, signed into law on March 23, 1882, declaring polygamy a felony. The act is named for U.S. Senator George F. Edmunds of Vermont...
for the suppression of polygamy
Polygamy
Polygamy is a marriage which includes more than two partners...
in Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
and of the Sherman Antitrust Act
Sherman Antitrust Act
The Sherman Antitrust Act requires the United States federal government to investigate and pursue trusts, companies, and organizations suspected of violating the Act. It was the first Federal statute to limit cartels and monopolies, and today still forms the basis for most antitrust litigation by...
of 1890 to limit monopolies
Monopoly
A monopoly exists when a specific person or enterprise is the only supplier of a particular commodity...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Edmunds served as President pro tempore of the Senate
President pro tempore of the United States Senate
The President pro tempore is the second-highest-ranking official of the United States Senate. The United States Constitution states that the Vice President of the United States is the President of the Senate and the highest-ranking official of the Senate despite not being a member of the body...
from 1883 to 1885, was chairman of the Republican Conference of the Senate
Republican Conference Chairman of the United States Senate
The Republican conference of the United States Senate chooses a conference chairperson. The office was created in the mid-19th century with the founding of the Republican party...
from 1885 to 1891, chairman of the Senate Committee on Pensions from 1869 to 1873, chairman of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary
United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
The United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary is a standing committee of the United States Senate, of the United States Congress. The Judiciary Committee, with 18 members, is charged with conducting hearings prior to the Senate votes on confirmation of federal judges nominated by the...
from 1872 to 1879 and again from 1881 to 1891, chairman of the Senate Committee on Private Land Claims
United States Senate Committee on Claims
The United States Senate Committee on Claims was among the first standing committees established in the Senate. It dealt generally with issues related to private bills and petitions...
from 1879 to 1881 and chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
The United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations is a standing committee of the United States Senate. It is charged with leading foreign-policy legislation and debate in the Senate. The Foreign Relations Committee is generally responsible for overseeing and funding foreign aid programs as...
in 1881.
Edmunds resigned from the Senate in 1891 in order to focus on his law practice in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He later retired to Pasadena, California
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
where he died on February 27, 1919. He was buried in Green Mount Cemetery in Burlington, Vermont
Burlington, Vermont
Burlington is the largest city in the U.S. state of Vermont and the shire town of Chittenden County. Burlington lies south of the U.S.-Canadian border and some south of Montreal....
with his wife, Susan Marsh, who died in 1916. George F. Edmunds Middle School, one of two middle schools in Burlington, was named in his honor. Mount Rainier
Mount Rainier
Mount Rainier is a massive stratovolcano located southeast of Seattle in the state of Washington, United States. It is the most topographically prominent mountain in the contiguous United States and the Cascade Volcanic Arc, with a summit elevation of . Mt. Rainier is considered one of the most...
's Edmunds Glacier
Edmunds Glacier
The Edmunds Glacier is a medium-sized glacier on Mount Rainier in Washington. Named in 1883 for Vermont George F. Edmunds, who visited nearby Spray Park that year, the body of ice covers 0.5 mile2 and has a volume of 1.1 billion feet3 . The glacier lies on the western flank of the volcano below...
and, despite the spelling, the town of Edmonds, Washington
Edmonds, Washington
Edmonds is a city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. Edmonds has a view of Puget Sound and both the Olympic Mountains and Cascade Range. The third most populous city in Snohomish County after Everett and Marysville, the population was 39,709 according to the 2010 census...
is named for him.
External links
- George F. Edmunds at Find A GraveFind A GraveFind a Grave is a commercial website providing free access and input to an online database of cemetery records. It was founded in 1998 as a DBA and incorporated in 2000.-History:...