Conkling, Roscoe

Conkling, Roscoe
(b. Oct. 30, 1829, Albany, N.Y., U.S.
d. April 18, 1888, New York, N.Y.) U.S. politician.

He was a lawyer, orator, and leader of the Whig Party. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives (1859–65) and Senate (1867–81). As a leader of the Radical Republicans, he supported severe Reconstruction measures. Resisting efforts by Pres. Rutherford B. Hayes to achieve civil service reform, he retained control of New York state's patronage system. At the 1880 Republican convention, he led the Stalwart faction in supporting former Pres. Ulysses S. Grant. In 1881 he resigned from the Senate in a patronage dispute with Pres. James Garfield.

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▪ American politician

born Oct. 30, 1829, Albany, N.Y., U.S.
died April 18, 1888, New York City
 prominent U.S. Republican leader in the post-Civil War period. He was known for his support of severe Reconstruction measures toward the South and his insistence on the control of political patronage in his home state of New York.

      Admitted to the bar in 1850, Conkling soon established a reputation as a lawyer, orator, and Whig Party leader. In 1858 he ran as a Republican and was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, serving for six years. In 1867 he won a seat in the Senate, where he held office for 14 years.

      In Congress, Conkling consistently upheld the administration of President Abraham Lincoln in his conduct of the Civil War (1861–65). He became a leader of the Radical Republicans, who advocated firm military supervision of the defeated Confederate states and broader rights for freedmen. In addition, he was an avid supporter of the Fourteenth (due process) Amendment to the Constitution (1868). Conkling influenced the administration of President Ulysses S. Grant (1869–77) in its overall policy toward the South.

      To maintain a tight grip on the reins of political power in his home state, Conkling insisted on the need for senators to have personal control over all federal appointments within state boundaries. He thus vigorously resisted the efforts of the Republican president Rutherford B. Hayes (served 1877–81) to introduce civil-service reform legislation.

      At the party convention of 1880 Conkling headed the so-called Stalwart faction supporting a third term for former president Grant. As a result of this movement, the convention was split and a compromise candidate, James A. Garfield, was nominated and elected. Conkling resigned from office (May 1881) in a dispute with the new president over the patronage issue. He declined a nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1882 and practiced law in New York City until his death.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Conkling, Roscoe — (30 oct. 1829, Albany, N.Y., EE.UU.–18 abr. 1888, Nueva York, N.Y.). Político estadounidense. Fue abogado, orador y dirigente del Partido Whig. Se desempeñó en la Cámara de Representantes (1859–65) y en el Senado (186–781). Como dirigente de los… …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Conkling,Roscoe — Conk·ling (kŏngkʹlĭng), Roscoe. 1829 1888. American politician who resigned from the U.S. Senate (1881) as a protest against President James A. Garfield s interference in New York patronage politics. * * * …   Universalium

  • CONKLING, ROSCOE —    an American politician, a leading man on the Republican side; was a member of the House of Representatives, and also of the Senate; retired from politics, and practised law at New York (1828 1888) …   The Nuttall Encyclopaedia

  • Conkling — Conkling, Roscoe, nordamerikan. Staatsmann, geb. 30. Okt. 1829 in Albany (New York), gest. 18. April 1888, studierte die Rechte und ward 1849 zum Attorney von Oneida County ernannt. 1858 wurde er zum Mayor von Utica und 1859 zum Mitgliede des… …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

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  • Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle — Fatty Arbuckle Fatty Arbuckle Nom de naissance Roscoe Conkling Arbuckle Naissance 24 mars 1887 Smith Center, États Unis Nationalité(s) …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle — Fatty Arbuckle Fatty Arbuckle Nom de naissance Roscoe Conkling Arbuckle Naissance 24 mars 1887 Smith Center, États Unis Nationalité(s) …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Roscoe C. Patterson — For the U.S. Senator from New York whom this person was named after, see Roscoe Conkling. Roscoe Conkling Patterson(September 15, 1876 October 22, 1954) was a United States Representative and Senator from Missouri. Born in Springfield, Missouri,… …   Wikipedia

  • roscoe — /ros koh/, n. Older Slang. a revolver or pistol. [1910 15, Amer.; of uncert. orig.] * * * (as used in expressions) Conkling Roscoe Murrow Edward Egbert Roscoe Pound Roscoe * * * …   Universalium

  • Roscoe — /ros koh/, n. a male given name: from Germanic words meaning swift and horse. * * * (as used in expressions) Conkling Roscoe Murrow Edward Egbert Roscoe Pound Roscoe * * * …   Universalium

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