Jacob Turney
Jacob Turney | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 21st district | |
| In office 1875–1879 | |
| Preceded by | Alexander W. Taylor |
| Succeeded by | Morgan R. Wise |
| Member of the Pennsylvania Senate for the 22nd district | |
| In office 1858–1860 | |
| Preceded by | William Wilkins |
| Succeeded by | Smith Fuller |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 18, 1825 Greensburg, Pennsylvania |
| Died | October 4, 1891 (aged 66) |
| Resting place | St. Clair Cemetery |
| Political party | Democratic |
Jacob Turney (February 18, 1825 – October 4, 1891) was an American lawyer and politician from Pennsylvania who served two terms as a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives for Pennsylvania's 21st congressional district from 1875 to 1879. He also served as a member of the Pennsylvania Senate for the 22nd district from 1858 to 1860.
Early life and education
[edit]Turney was born in Greensburg, Pennsylvania to Dutch immigrants Jacob, Sr. and Margaret (Singer) Turney.[1] He completed preparatory studies and attended Greensburg Academy. He apprenticed as a printer and worked as a deputy sheriff and clerk in the register and recorder's office.[2] He studied law under Albert Marchand,[1] was admitted to the bar in 1849 and commenced practice in Greensburg.
Career
[edit]He served as district attorney for Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, from 1850 to 1855. He gained prominence through the successful prosecution of several high profile murder trials. He was a presidential elector in 1856 and cast his vote for James Buchanan.[3] He was a member of the Pennsylvania State Senate for the 22nd district from 1858 to 1860 and was elected president in 1859. He was an unsuccessful candidate for State Senator in 1871.[1]
Congress
[edit]Turney was elected as a Democrat to the Forty-fourth and Forty-fifth Congresses. He served on the Privileges and Elections, Mines, Territories and Currencies Committees. He played a key role in the passage of the Bland-Allison Act which reintroduced the legality of silver currency.[1]
Later career and death
[edit]After leaving Congress, he resumed the practice of law. He died in Greensburg in 1891 and was interred in St. Clair Cemetery.[4]
Footnotes
[edit]- ^ a b c d "Pennsylvania Senate - Jacob Turney Biography". www.legis.state.pa.us. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
- ^ Wiley, Samuel T (1890). Biographical and Historical Cyclopedia of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: John M. Gresham & Co. p. 171. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
- ^ The Twentieth Century Bench and Bar of Pennsylvania. Chicago: H.C. Cooper, Jr., Bro. & Co. 1903. p. 142. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
- ^ "Jacob Turney". www.findagrave.com. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
Sources
[edit]- United States Congress. "Jacob Turney (id: T000431)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- The Political Graveyard
- 1825 births
- 1891 deaths
- 19th-century American lawyers
- American lawyers admitted to the practice of law by reading law
- County district attorneys in Pennsylvania
- Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Pennsylvania
- Pennsylvania lawyers
- Democratic Party Pennsylvania state senators
- People from Greensburg, Pennsylvania
- Presidents pro tempore of the Pennsylvania Senate
- 19th-century members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly
- 19th-century members of the United States House of Representatives