George F. Edmunds
George Franklin Edmunds (February 1, 1828 – February 27, 1919) was an American attorney and Republican politician who represented the state of Vermont in the United States Senate from 1866 to 1891. He was a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination in 1880 and 1884 as a leading representative of New England and of the faction favoring civil service reform.
George F. Edmunds | |
|---|---|
Edmunds c. 1865–80 | |
| Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference | |
| In office December 1885 – November 1, 1891 | |
| Preceded by | John Sherman |
| Succeeded by | John Sherman |
| President pro tempore of the United States Senate | |
| In office March 3, 1883 – March 3, 1885 | |
| Preceded by | David Davis |
| Succeeded by | John Sherman |
| United States Senator from Vermont | |
| In office April 3, 1866 – November 1, 1891 | |
| Preceded by | Solomon Foot |
| Succeeded by | Redfield Proctor |
| President pro tempore of the Vermont State Senate | |
| In office 1861–1862 | |
| Preceded by | Frederick E. Woodbridge |
| Succeeded by | Henry E. Stoughton |
| Member of the Vermont Senate from Chittenden County | |
| In office 1861–1863 Serving with John H. Woodward, Elmer Beecher, Jed P. Clark, A. C. Welch | |
| Preceded by | John H. Woodward, Asahel Peck, Elmer Beecher |
| Succeeded by | Leverett B. Englesby, Amos Hobart, A. J. Crane |
| Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives | |
| In office 1857–1860 | |
| Preceded by | George W. Grandey |
| Succeeded by | Augustus P. Hunton |
| Member of the Vermont House of Representatives from Burlington | |
| In office 1854–1860 | |
| Preceded by | Edward C. Palmer |
| Succeeded by | Carlous Noyes |
| Personal details | |
| Born | George Franklin Edmunds February 1, 1828 Richmond, Vermont, U.S. |
| Died | February 27, 1919 (aged 91) Pasadena, California, U.S. |
| Resting place | Green Mount Cemetery, Burlington, Vermont |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Susan Marsh Edmunds |
| Profession | Lawyer |
| Signature | |
Edmunds was born in Richmond, Vermont and began to study law while still a teenager; he proved an adept student, and was admitted to the bar as soon as he reached the minimum required age of 21. He practiced in Burlington and became active in local politics and government. Before entering the Senate, he served in a number of high-profile positions in state government, including Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives and President pro tempore of the Vermont State Senate.
Edmunds was appointed to the U.S. Senate in 1866, filling the vacancy caused by the death of Solomon Foot. He was subsequently elected by the Vermont General Assembly, and reelected in 1868, 1874, 1880, and 1886 before resigning in November 1891. As a longtime member of the U.S. Senate, he served in a variety of leadership posts, including chairman of the committees on Pensions, the Judiciary, the Private Land Claims, and Foreign Relations. He was also the leader of the Senate Republicans as President pro tempore of the Senate and chairman of the Republican Conference. Edmunds was an unsuccessful candidate for president at the 1880 and 1884 Republican National Conventions.
After leaving the Senate he practiced law in Philadelphia. Edmunds later lived in retirement in Pasadena, California, where he died in 1919. He was buried at Green Mount Cemetery in Burlington, Vermont.