John H. Clifford

John H. Clifford

John Henry Clifford (born January 16, 1809 in Providence , Rhode Island , †  January 2, 1876 in New Bedford , Massachusetts ) was an American politician and governor of the state of Massachusetts from 1853 to 1854 .

Early years and political advancement

John Clifford attended Brown University until 1827 . After studying law, he was admitted to the bar in 1830. He then began to work in his new profession in New Bedford. Clifford became a member of the newly formed Whig Party . In 1835 he was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives for one term . From 1836 to 1840 he was on the advisory board of Governor Edward Everett , and between 1839 and 1849 he was District Attorney for the southern part of Massachusetts. In 1845 he was also a member of the State Senate . Next he became Attorney General of his state. He held this office between 1849 and 1853.

Massachusetts governor and further résumé

In 1852, Clifford was his party's top candidate in the upcoming gubernatorial election. The elections did not result in a clear winner, so the decision had to be made in the State Senate. This decided in favor of Clifford, who could serve as governor between January 14, 1853 and January 4, 1854. As governor, he promoted crafts and fishing in his state.

Clifford did not run for re-election in 1853. Instead, he took over the office of Attorney General, which he held from 1854 to 1858. After his party disbanded in the 1850s, Clifford became a member of the Republicans . In 1859 he was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences . Between 1862 and 1867 he sat again in the State Senate; In 1862 he was president of this chamber. In 1868 he was one of the electors for Ulysses S. Grant in his successful presidential election. In 1875 he became the federal government's fisheries commissioner. John Clifford served on Harvard University's board of directors for many years . He died in January 1876. John Clifford had two children with his wife, Sarah Parker.

Web links

• John Clifford at the National Governors Association (English)
• John H. Clifford in the database of Find a Grave (English)