Henry Donnel Foster (December 19, 1808 – October 16, 1880) was an American lawyer and politician who served three terms as a Democratic member of the

U.S. House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives is a chamber of the bicameral United States Congress; it is the lower house, with the U.S. Senate being the upper house. Together, the House and Senate have the authority under Article One of th ...

from

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania, officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a U.S. state, state spanning the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern United States, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes region, Great Lakes regions o ...

from 1843 to 1847, and from 1871 to 1873.

Early life

Henry Donnel Foster was born on December 19, 1808, in

Mercer, Pennsylvania Mercer is a borough in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, United States, and its county seat. The population was 1,982 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Hermitage micropolitan area. The community was named after Brigadier General Hugh Mercer. ...

, to Samuel Foster. His mother's maiden name was Donnell. His father was a lawyer. Foster pursued classical studies and graduated from the College of Meadville. He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1829.

Career

After graduating, Foster commenced practice in

Greensburg, Pennsylvania Greensburg is a city in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, United States, and its county seat. The population was 14,976 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Located southeast of Pittsburgh, Greensburg is a part of the Greater Pittsbu ...

. He worked as a solicitor for the

Pennsylvania Railroad The Pennsylvania Railroad ( reporting mark PRR), legal name as the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, also known as the "Pennsy," was an American Class I railroad that was established in 1846 and headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At its ...

Congress

Foster was elected as a Democrat to the Twenty-eighth and Twenty-ninth Congresses.

Later political career

He served as a member of the

Pennsylvania State House of Representatives The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is the lower house of the bicameral Pennsylvania General Assembly, the legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. There are 203 members, elected for two-year terms from single member districts. It ...

, representing Fayette and Westmoreland counties, in 1857 and 1858. He was an unsuccessful candidate for election to Congress in

1858 Events January–March * January 9 ** Revolt of Rajab Ali: British forces finally defeat Rajab Ali Khan of Chittagong. ** Anson Jones, the last president of the Republic of Texas, commits suicide. * January 14 – Orsini affair: Pi ...

. He was also an unsuccessful candidate for

Governor A governor is an politician, administrative leader and head of a polity or Region#Political regions, political region, in some cases, such as governor-general, governors-general, as the head of a state's official representative. Depending on the ...

in 1860. He unsuccessfully contested the election of John Covode to the Forty-first Congress.

Return to Congress

Foster was again elected to the Forty-second Congress. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in

1872 Events January * January 12 – Yohannes IV is crowned Emperor of Ethiopia in Axum, the first ruler crowned in that city in over 500 years. *January 20 – The Cavite mutiny was an uprising of Filipino military personnel of Fort S ...

Later career

Foster resumed the practice of law in Greensburg until 1880.

Personal life

Foster had at least two children, Emily and Lizzie. He was the cousin of

John Cabell Breckinridge John Cabell Breckinridge (January 16, 1821 – May 17, 1875) was an American politician who served as the 14th vice president of the United States, with President James Buchanan, from 1857 to 1861. Assuming office at the age of 36, Breckinridg ...

Death and burial

In 1879, Foster moved to

Irwin, Pennsylvania Irwin is a borough in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 3,902 at the 2020 census. Located southeast of Pittsburgh, some of the most extensive bituminous coal deposits in the commonwealth are located in Irwin. ...

. He died on October 16, 1880, in Irwin. He was interred at St. Clair Cemetery in Greensburg.

References

External links

The Political Graveyard
{{DEFAULTSORT:Foster, Henry D. 1808 births 1880 deaths People from Mercer, Pennsylvania Politicians from Mercer County, Pennsylvania Allegheny College alumni Democratic Party members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives Pennsylvania lawyers Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Pennsylvania 19th-century American lawyers 19th-century members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly 19th-century members of the United States House of Representatives