Francis Rawn Shunk (August 7, 1788 – July 20, 1848) was the tenth governor of Pennsylvania from 1845 to 1848.

Early career

Shunk was born on August 7, 1788 in

Trappe, Pennsylvania Trappe (Pennsylvania Dutch language, Pennsylvania German: ''Drapp'') is a borough (Pennsylvania), borough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 3,509 at the 2010 census. Augustus Lutheran Church, built in 1743, is ...

, to a poor farming family of

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descent. His great-grandfather Simon Schunck was born in

Saarland The Saarland (, ; french: Sarre ) is a state of Germany in the south west of the country. With an area of and population of 990,509 in 2018, it is the smallest German state in area apart from the city-states of Berlin, Bremen, and Hamburg, and ...

and settled in the Province of Pennsylvania. Francis R. Shunk began working on his father's farm at age 10. He continued to attend school, and by age 16 had received his qualification as a teacher and started working in the schools. Originally a

Democratic-Republican The Democratic-Republican Party, known at the time as the Republican Party and also referred to as the Jeffersonian Republican Party among other names, was an American political party founded by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison in the early ...

in politics, and later a

Democrat Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (United States) (D) **Democratic ...

, in 1812 Shunk was appointed Clerk to state Surveyor General Andrew Porter, the father of Governor David R. Porter. Shunk served in the Pennsylvania militia during the

War of 1812 The War of 1812 (18 June 1812 – 17 February 1815) was fought by the United States, United States of America and its Indigenous peoples of the Americas, indigenous allies against the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, United Kingdom ...

, and took part in the 1814 defense of Baltimore. After the war, Shunk was appointed Principal Clerk of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. In 1820, he married Jane Findlay, daughter of Pennsylvania Governor and Senator, William Findlay, and Pennsylvania First Lady Nancy Irwin Findlay. From 1829 to 1839, Shunk served as Secretary of the state Canal Commission, a critical position in the government during a period when major canal, railroad and other public works projects were planned and constructed. In 1839, Shunk was appointed Secretary of the Commonwealth, and he served until 1842.

Governor of Pennsylvania

When Democratic gubernatorial candidate Henry A. P. Muhlenberg unexpectedly died in August 1844, Shunk was selected as the party's replacement nominee. He narrowly defeated Whig candidate Joseph Markle. A large crowd attended Shunk's inaugural ceremonies, which were held during a snowstorm on January 21, 1845. Subsequently reelected during the 1847 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election, he was compelled to retire before his second term was complete due to failing health caused by

tuberculosis Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease usually caused by '' Mycobacterium tuberculosis'' (MTB) bacteria. Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but it can also affect other parts of the body. Most infections show no symptoms, i ...

. He resigned on July 9, 1848, and died in Harrisburg on July 20, 1848, just eleven days after tendering his resignation. Shunk was buried at the

Augustus Lutheran Church Augustus Lutheran Church is a historic church and Lutheran congregation at 717 West Main Street in Trappe, Pennsylvania. Consecrated in 1745, it is the oldest Lutheran church building in the United States. It continues to be used by the foundin ...

Cemetery in

Legacy

*Shunk Hall on the University Park campus of the Pennsylvania State University is named in his honor. *Shunk Street in

Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania#Municipalities, largest city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the List of United States cities by population, sixth-largest city i ...

is also named for him, as is Governor F.R. Shunk Avenue in Carlisle. *The village of Shunk in Fox Township, Sullivan County is also named for him.

Early career

Governor of Pennsylvania

Legacy

References

External links