Leonard Myers (politician)

Leonard Myers

Leonard Myers (born November 13, 1827 in Attleboro , Bucks County , Pennsylvania , †  February 11, 1905 in Philadelphia , Pennsylvania) was an American politician . Between 1863 and 1875 he represented the state of Pennsylvania in the US House of Representatives - with a brief interruption in 1869 .

Career

Leonard Myers attended private schools and then studied at the University of Pennsylvania . After a subsequent law degree and his admission as a lawyer in 1848, he began to work in Philadelphia in this profession. He also held various local offices in his homeland. In September 1862 he was drafted as major in the state militia for a short time during the civil war . At that time, the state of Pennsylvania was under acute military threat from the Maryland campaign of Confederation General Robert E. Lee .

Politically, Myers joined the Republican Party . In the congressional elections of 1862 he was elected to the US House of Representatives in Washington, DC in the third constituency of Pennsylvania , where he succeeded John Paul Verree on March 4, 1863 . After two re-elections, he was able to complete three legislative terms in Congress by March 3, 1869 . These were shaped by the events of the civil war until 1865. Since 1865, the work of Congress has been overshadowed by tension between Republicans and President Andrew Johnson , which culminated in a narrowly unsuccessful impeachment trial.

In 1868 Myers was defeated by the Democrat John Moffet . However, he appealed against the outcome of the election. When this was granted, he was able to resume his former seat in Congress on April 9, 1869. After two re-elections, he could remain in the US House of Representatives until March 3, 1875. From 1871 to 1873 he was chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee and the Patent Committee. He then headed the Private Land Claims Committee between 1873 and 1875. In 1874 he was not re-elected.

After his time in the US House of Representatives, Leonard Myers practiced as a lawyer again. He died in Philadelphia on February 11, 1905.

Web links

• Leonard Myers in the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress (English)
• Leonard Myers in the database of Find a Grave (English)

predecessor	Office	successor
John Paul Verree	United States House Representative for Pennsylvania (3rd constituency) March 4, 1863 - March 3, 1869	John Moffet
John Moffet	United States House Representative for Pennsylvania (3rd constituency) April 9, 1869 - March 3, 1875	Samuel J. Randall