John Moffet (politician)
John Moffet (April 5, 1831 – June 19, 1884) was an Irish-American politician who served as a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives for Pennsylvania's 3rd congressional district. The election was contested by Leonard Myers on the grounds that several wards in Philadelphia submitted false results. The House of Representatives conducted an investigation and voted that Myers was the winner. Mofett only served from March 4, 1869 to April 9, 1869.
John Moffet | |
|---|---|
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 3rd district | |
| In office March 1869 – April 1869 | |
| Preceded by | Leonard Myers |
| Succeeded by | Leonard Myers |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 5, 1831 County Antrim, Ireland |
| Died | June 19, 1884 (aged 53) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Resting place | Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic Party |
| Alma mater | University of Pennsylvania |
Early life and education
Moffet was born in County Antrim, Ireland. He immigrated to the United States with his parents, who settled in Philadelphia. He studied medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and became an apothecary in 1853.[1]
Career
He served as director and controller of the public schools in Philadelphia from 1860 to 1869.[2]
He ran as the Democratic party candidate for Pennsylvania's 3rd congressional district and on October 13, 1869, was determined the winner over Leonard Myers. On November 12, Myers contested the election on the grounds that several wards in the city of Philadelphia submitted false election results. Ater witnesses were interviewed and depositions given, the House of Representative voted that Myers was the winner of the election.[3] Moffet only served one month, from March 4, 1869 to April 9, 1869.[1]
He died on June 19, 1884, in Philadelphia and was interred at Laurel Hill Cemetery.[4]
References
Citations
- "Moffet, John 1831-1884". www.bioguide.congress.gov. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
- Poore, Ben Perley (1869). Congressional Directory for the first session of the Forty First Congress of the United States of America. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office. p. 38. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
- Brewster 1869, pp. 231–232.
- Kestenbaum, Lawrence. "Moffatt to Momsen". www.politicalgraveyard.com. The Political Graveyard. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
Sources
- Myers Vs. Moffet. Papers in the Case of Leonard Myers Vs. John Moffet, Relative to the Contest for a Seat in the 41st Congress as a Representative from the Third District of Pennsylvania, 1869
- Brewster, F. Carroll (1869). Reports of Equity, Election, and Other Important Cases Argued and Determined Principally in the Courts of the County of Philadelphia. John Campbell.