Murphy J. Foster

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Murphy James Foster, Sr. (born January 12, 1849 in Franklin , St. Mary Parish , Louisiana , † June 21, 1921 ibid) was an American politician and governor of the state of Louisiana from 1892 to 1900 . Between 1901 and 1913 he represented his state in the US Senate .

Early years

Murphy Foster was born on his parents' plantation in Louisiana. He attended elementary school in Whites Creek near Nashville , Tennessee . He then studied at Washington and Lee University in Virginia and at Cumberland University in Tennessee. With a law degree at what is now Tulane University in Louisiana, he finished his education in 1871. He then worked as a lawyer in Franklin.

Political rise

Foster became a member of the Democratic Party . During the controversial gubernatorial election of 1872, he supported John McEnery . When this after a decision by President Ulysses S. Grant lost his office to William P. Kellogg , Foster joined a coalition against Kellogg. Between 1879 and 1892, Foster was a member of the Louisiana Senate . Between 1888 and 1890 he was president of this body. At that time he was against an extension of the license of the corrupt lottery company. On April 19, 1892, he was elected the new governor of his state with the support of the farmers' associations and opponents of the lottery society.

Louisiana Governor

Murphy Foster took office on May 10, 1892. After re-election in 1896, he was able to remain in this office until May 21, 1900. However, the election of 1896 was controversial as there may have been election fraud on the part of Foster. During his tenure as governor, he sent the militia to New Orleans in 1892 to suppress a strike . In 1893, he provided food to the drought-stricken Nebraska residents . In the same year there was a flood disaster in Louisiana. Parts of the population had to be evacuated and placed in tent camps. The lottery company has now been officially dissolved and new electoral laws passed. The governor was also a racist . An amendment to the state constitution in 1898 put African Americans at a significant disadvantage. Separate compartments according to race were introduced into the railways. According to the new electoral laws, Foster was not allowed to run for a third term. Therefore, he resigned from office in May 1900.

US Senator

After the end of his governorship, Foster was elected to the US Senate. There he took over from Donelson Caffery as a Class 2 Senator . After he was confirmed in this office in 1907, he held his mandate in Congress until March 3, 1913. He was chairman of the committee that dealt with the transport and sale of meat products. In the 1912 congressional elections, Foster was defeated by Joseph E. Ransdell , who succeeded him in the Senate in March 1913.

Another résumé

In 1914, Foster was appointed by US President Woodrow Wilson to head the customs service ( Collector of the port ) in the port of New Orleans. He held this office until 1921. He died in June of that year on his plantation near Franklin. Murphy Foster was married twice and had a total of ten children. His grandson Mike Foster was also to become Governor of Louisiana between 1996 and 2004.

literature

  • Robert Sobel and John Raimo (Eds.): Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789–1978. Volume 2, Meckler Books, Westport, 1978. 4 volumes.

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Foster, Murphy J.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Foster, Murphy James (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American politician
DATE OF BIRTH January 12, 1849
PLACE OF BIRTH near Franklin , Louisiana
DATE OF DEATH June 21, 1921
Place of death near Franklin , Louisiana