Michael Hutchinson Jenks

Michael Hutchinson Jenks (* May 21, 1795 in Middletown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, † October 16, 1867 in Newtown, Pennsylvania ) was an American politician. Between 1843 and 1845 he represented the State of Pennsylvania in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Career

Michael Jenks was the father of Alexander Ramsey, governor and U.S. senator for Minnesota, and Secretary of War of the United States. Jenks enjoyed an academic training and then worked in agriculture. Between 1830 and 1833 he was district administrator in Bucks County. From 1833 to 1835 he worked there as a eunuch. Since 1837 he lived in Newtown. From 1838 to 1843 he served as an appellate judge. Politically, he was a member of the Whig party.

In the congressional elections of 1842 Jenks was in the sixth constituency of Pennsylvania in the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington DC chosen, where he became the successor of Robert Ramsey on March 4, 1843. Since he has not been confirmed in 1844, he was able to complete only one term in Congress until March 3, 1845. This period was characterized by the tensions between President John Tyler and the Whigs. It was also at that time already been discussed about a possible annexation of the independent Republic of Texas since 1836 by Mexico.

After the end of his time in the U.S. House of Representatives Michael Jenks worked in the real estate industry. In addition, he was still active in other business areas. Between 1848 and 1853 he was mayor of Newtown, where he died on 16 October 1867.