Francis Kernan | |
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United States Senator from New York |
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In office March 4, 1875 – March 4, 1881 |
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Preceded by | Reuben E. Fenton |
Succeeded by | Thomas C. Platt |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 21st district |
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In office March 4, 1863 – March 3, 1865 |
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Preceded by | R. Holland Duell |
Succeeded by | Roscoe Conkling |
Member of the New York State Assembly from the Oneida County, 1st district |
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In office January 1, 1861 – December 31, 1861 |
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Preceded by | James McQuade |
Succeeded by | Charles M. Scholefield |
Personal details | |
Born |
Wayne, New York |
January 14, 1816
Died | September 7, 1892 Utica, New York |
(aged 76)
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse(s) | Hannah A. Devereux |
Profession | Politician, Lawyer |
Religion | Roman Catholic |
Francis Kernan (January 14, 1816 – September 7, 1892) was an American lawyer and politician from New York. He was a U.S. Senator (D-NY) from 1875 to 1881.
Kernan was the son of Gen. William Kernan, who came to America from County Cavan, Ireland, in 1800, and Rose Anna (Stubbs) Kernan. He graduated from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., in 1836, then studied law, and removed to Utica, New York in 1839. He was admitted to the bar in July 1840, and then practiced law with Joshua A. Spencer.
Kernan was school commissioner of Utica, manager of the New York State Hospital, Reporter of the New York Court of Appeals from 1854 to 1857, a member of the New York State Assembly (Oneida Co., 1st D.) in 1861, and a regent of the University of the State of New York from 1870 until his death.
He was elected as a Democrat to the 38th United States Congress, defeating the Republican boss Roscoe Conkling, and served from March 4, 1863, to March 3, 1865. In 1864, he was defeated for re-election by Conkling.
In 1872, he was the Democratic/Liberal-Republican candidate for Governor of New York, but was defeated by Republican John Adams Dix. During these times, Kernan, Roscoe Conkling and Horatio Seymour were the heads of New York state politics, known as the "Utica trio".