Charles Foster (politician)

Charles Foster (ca.1870)

Charles William Foster, Jr. (born April 12, 1828 in Seneca County , Ohio , † January 9, 1904 in Fostoria , Ohio) was an American businessman, Republican politician , governor of Ohio and US Treasury Secretary .

Early years

After finishing school, he first worked in retail and then in a bank. In 1846, at the age of 18, he first became a partner and a year later he became head of his father's retail business. His successful management soon enabled him to invest in railways and banks as well, so that he eventually became a wealthy man. When in 1854 the city of his birth Rome was merged with the neighboring city of Risdon, the newly created city was named Fostoria in his honor . He was then also elected the city's first mayor.

Political career

Congressman

His actual political career began in 1870 with the successful election as Republican MP in the US House of Representatives . There he represented from March 4, 1871 to March 3, 1879 first the 9th and then from 1873 the 10th electoral district of Ohio. In 1876 he was a member of the commission for the counting of the controversial presidential election between Rutherford B. Hayes and Samuel J. Tilden . He was one of eight Republican representatives; the Democratic Party had seven members. The result was 8: 7 for Republican Hayes. In 1878 Foster lost when he ran for the House of Representatives again.

Governor of ohio

Portrait of Charles Foster in the US Treasury Department

In 1879, Foster was elected as his party's candidate for the new governor of his state. He took up his new office on January 12, 1880. After a re-election in 1881, he was able to exercise it until January 14, 1884. The administration was reformed during his tenure. The tax on alcoholic beverages was increased and the country's infrastructure improved.

United States Secretary of the Treasury

After the end of his governorship, he retired from political life for a few years. It was not until 1890 that he ran unsuccessfully as a senator . After William Windom's death on January 29, 1891, President Benjamin Harrison appointed him Treasury Secretary to his cabinet . His tenure in particular the implementation of the fell Silver standards by the Sherman Silver Purchase Act ( "Sherman Silver Purchase Act" ) of 1890. In the following years the formation he managed a financial reserve, which the consequences of the economic crisis of 1893 could soften.

Another résumé

After the end of President Harrison's tenure on March 6, 1893, Foster retired from political life. However, he was President of the Board of Trustees of the State Hospital in Toledo since 1887 . and since 1895 President of the Association of Trustees and Employees of Hospitals for the Insane. He held both offices until his death. Charles Foster was married to Ann M. Olmsted, with whom he had two children.

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personal data
SURNAME	Foster, Charles
ALTERNATIVE NAMES	Charles William Foster, Jr.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	American politician
DATE OF BIRTH	April 12, 1828
PLACE OF BIRTH	Seneca County , Ohio
DATE OF DEATH	January 9, 1904
Place of death	Fostoria , Ohio