French, Augustus C., 1808-1864

Variant names
Dates:
Birth 1808-08-02
Death 1864-09-04

Biographical notes:

Lawyer who came from New York to Illinois in 1832 and was elected to the state legislature in 1836, and to the governor's office in 1846 after which he was appointed state bank commissioner and taught law at McKendree College. During his tenure as governor he gained Illinois a reputation for fiscal integrity by paying state debts accrued by internal improvements such as the Illinois-Michigan Canal and the Illinois Central Railroad. He also worked to build the Jacksonville Insane Asylum. Dealt with problems of violence in Massac County and Bishop Hill colony. Also with discontent in Alton and Quincy, Ill. over the St. Louis proposed dike in the Mississippi to control erosion of the city's harbor.

From the description of Papers, 1841-1852. (Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library). WorldCat record id: 53167537

Lawyer, Paris and Palestine, Illinois; member, Illinois House of Representatives, 1836-1840; Illinois governor, 1846-1853.

From the description of Document : Springfield, [Ill.], 1847 Jan. 1. (Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library). WorldCat record id: 30798383

From the description of Documents, 1836-1850. (Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library). WorldCat record id: 30798391

From the description of Document: Springfield, [Ill.], 1851 May 28. (Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library). WorldCat record id: 30798385

From the description of Letters : Springfield, [Ill.], to William Martin, Alton, Ill., 1847 July 7, 11, 31. (Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library). WorldCat record id: 30798430

From the description of Letters: Springfield, [Ill.], 1850-1852. (Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library). WorldCat record id: 30798432

French was governor of Illinois (1846-1853), the first to serve two terms.

From the description of Papers, 1838-1848. (Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library). WorldCat record id: 694182278

Links to collections

Comparison

This is only a preview comparison of Constellations. It will only exist until this window is closed.

  • Added or updated
  • Deleted or outdated

Information

Permalink:
SNAC ID:

Subjects:

  • Bonds
  • Debts, Public
  • Dueling
  • Geological surveys
  • Governor
  • Lawyers
  • Mexican War, 1846-1848

Occupations:

not available for this record

Places:

  • Illinois (as recorded)
  • Mississippi River (as recorded)
  • Macoupin County (Ill.) (as recorded)
  • Massac County (Ill.) (as recorded)
  • Bishop Hill (Ill.) (as recorded)
  • Illinois (as recorded)
  • Edgar County (Ill.) (as recorded)
  • Illinois (as recorded)
  • Illinois (as recorded)
  • Illinois (as recorded)
  • Illinois (as recorded)
  • Illinois and Michigan Canal (Ill.) (as recorded)