George A. Jenks

George Augustus Jenks (March 26, 1836 – February 10, 1908) was a politician from Pennsylvania, serving in Congress and as Solicitor General of the United States.

George A. Jenks
George Jenks
4th Solicitor General of the United States
In office
July 1886  May 1889
Appointed byGrover Cleveland
Preceded byJohn Goode
Succeeded byOrlow W. Chapman
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Pennsylvania's 25th district
In office
March 4, 1875 – March 3, 1877
Preceded byDistrict re-established
Succeeded byHarry White
Personal details
Born(1836-03-26)March 26, 1836
Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, US
DiedFebruary 10, 1908(1908-02-10) (aged 71)
Brookville, Pennsylvania, US
EducationJefferson College
OccupationU.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 25th congressional district, United States Solicitor General,

Life and career

George Jenks was born in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania on March 26, 1836. He graduated from Jefferson College in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania (now Washington & Jefferson College) in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, in 1858. He was a member of Phi Kappa Psi.

After college, he married Mary A. Mabon, and they had one daughter, Emma Jenks (1862-1926), who married Benjamin F. Shively. Jenks first worked as a lawyer before beginning a career as a judge and politician.

Congress

He served as a Congressman for Pennsylvania from 1875 to 1877, in the 44th Congress. He served as chairman of the United States House Committee on Invalid Pensions during the Forty-fourth Congress. He was also one of the managers appointed by the House of Representatives in 1876 to conduct the impeachment proceedings against William W. Belknap, ex-Secretary of War.

Later career and death

Following his tenure in Congress, Jenks was nominated by the Democrats for judge of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania in 1880. He was defeated by Henry Green, of Easton, PA. He was later selected as U.S. Assistant Secretary of Interior; a position which he held from 1885 to 1886.

From 1886 to 1889 Jenks served as United States Solicitor General, during President Grover Cleveland’s first term. He was the Democratic nominee for governorship of Pennsylvania in 1898, as well as the Democratic senatorial nominee in 1899 during the Quay deadlock.

Jenks died February 10, 1908 at his home in Brookville, Pennsylvania.

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Office of the Solicitor General.

Sources

  • United States Congress. "George A. Jenks (id: J000091)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
  • The Political Graveyard
  • George A. Jenks at Find a Grave
Party political offices
Preceded by
William M. Singerly
Democratic nominee for Governor of Pennsylvania
1898
Succeeded by
Robert E. Pattison
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
At-large on a general ticket:
Charles Albright,
Glenni W. Scofield,
Lemuel Todd
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Pennsylvania's 25th congressional district

1875–1877
Succeeded by
Harry White
Legal offices
Preceded by
John Goode
Solicitor General
18861889
Succeeded by
Orlow W. Chapman
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