Edward McPherson

Edward McPherson
Clerk of the United States House of Representatives
In office 1889–1891 1881–1883 1863–1875
Director of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing
In office 1877–1878
Preceded by	Henry C. Jewell
Succeeded by	O. H. Irish
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 17th district
In office March 4, 1859 – March 3, 1863
Preceded by	Wilson Reilly
Succeeded by	Archibald McAllister
Personal details
Born	July 31, 1830 Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	December 14, 1895 (aged 65) Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political party	Whig
Other political affiliations	Republican
Alma mater	Pennsylvania College

Edward McPherson (July 31, 1830 – December 14, 1895)^[1] was an American newspaper editor and politician who served two terms in the United States House of Representatives, as well as multiple terms as the Clerk of the House of Representatives. As a director of the Gettysburg Battlefield Memorial Association, he effected efforts to protect and mark portions of the Gettysburg Battlefield.

Early life and career[]

Born near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, McPherson studied law and botany at Pennsylvania College, graduating in 1848 as valedictorian.

Career[]

In Thaddeus Stevens' firm in Lancaster, McPherson became a Whig. McPherson left the law practice due to illness and moved to Harrisburg, editing the Harrisburg American in 1851, and the Lancaster Independent Whig (1851–1854).^[2] In 1855, he started and edited an American Party paper, the Pittsburgh Evening Times.^[3] He moved back to Gettysburg the next year and resumed his legal career. He inherited his father's farm west of town along the Chambersburg Turnpike in 1858^[4] and was elected to the 36th and 37th United States Congresses (1859 – March 1863, Republican). He was a member of the Republican National Committee in 1860.

Civil War[]

McPherson organized Company K of the First Pennsylvania Reserves at the beginning of the American Civil War,^[5] and was defeated in the 1862 reelection when his House of Representatives district (Adams, Franklin, Fulton, Bedford, and Juniata counties)^[6] was expanded to include opposing Radical Republicans in Somerset County^{[citation needed]} (substituted for Juniata).^[7] President Abraham Lincoln appointed McPherson as Deputy Commissioner of Revenue in 1863. After the Battle of Gettysburg, McPherson became an officer of the Gettysburg Battlefield Memorial Association with an office on the corner of Baltimore and Middle streets,^[8] and after Congressman Morehead nominated him, Thaddeus Stevens had him appointed as Clerk of the House of Representatives (December 8, 1863 – December 5, 1875).^{[citation needed]}

Postbellum career[]

McPherson presided over the Republican National Convention in 1876, and President Hayes appointed him as director of the United States Bureau of Engraving and Printing (1877–1878). Returning to the newspaper business, he was editor of the Philadelphia Press from 1877 until 1880. He also served as editor of the New York Tribune Almanac from 1877 to 1895 and was editor and proprietor of a newspaper in Gettysburg from 1880 until 1895. He was the American editor of the Almanach de Gotha. He again served as Clerk of the House of Representatives from December 1881 to December 1883 and for a third time from December 1889 to December 1891. McPherson was the attorney for the 1893 complaint against the Gettysburg Electric Railway which ended in the Supreme Court case of United States v. Gettysburg Electric Railway Co. of the United States Bureau of Engraving and Printing (1877-8). Returning to the newspaper business, he was editor of the Philadelphia Press from 1877 until 1880. He also served as editor of the New York Tribune Almanac from 1877 to 1895 and was editor and proprietor of a newspaper in Gettysburg from 1880 until 1895. He was the American editor of the Almanach de Gotha. He again served as Clerk of the House of Representatives from December 1881 to December 1883 and for a third time from December 1889 to December 1891. McPherson was the attorney for the 1893 complaint against the Gettysburg Electric Railway which ended in the Supreme Court case of United States v. Gettysburg Electric Railway Co.^[9]

Personal life[]

1863 Battle of Gettysburg combat on July 1 was at the barn on McPherson Ridge, which had been named for McPherson by 1892.

McPherson died of accidental poisoning in Gettysburg^[10] (interred Evergreen Cemetery (Adams County, Pennsylvania)) after being married to Annie D. Crawford McPherson in 1862^[11][12] with four sons and a daughter.^[13] The Edward McPherson Society is named in his honor.

Works[]

In 1941, the papers of Edward McPherson were added to the Library of Congress, [1] and his published works include:

• McPherson, Edward (1864). Political History of the United States of America During the Great Rebellion. ISBN 9780722275344.
• —— (1871). The Political History of the United States of America During the Period of Reconstruction.
• —— (12 September 1889). "Remarks of Hon. Edward McPherson". The Star and Sentinel. Retrieved 2012-01-15.

Popular culture[]

In the 2012 film Lincoln, McPherson is portrayed by Christopher Evan Welch.

References[]

• Martin, David G. (2003). Gettysburg July 1. Combined Publishing. p. 584. ISBN 0-938289-81-0. Retrieved 2012-01-15.

External links[]

• Works by or about Edward McPherson at Internet Archive