Donelson Caffery

Donelson Caffery ( born September 10, 1835 in Franklin, St. Mary Parish, Louisiana, † December 30, 1906 in New Orleans, Louisiana ) was an American politician (Democratic Party), who represented Louisiana in the U.S. Senate.

Donelson Caffery first attended a private school in his hometown of Franklin, then the St. Mary's College in Baltimore (Maryland), and finally the University of Louisiana in New Orleans. He studied law, interrupted his legal training but to participate as a soldier of the Konföderiertenheeres the Civil War. In the 13th regiment from Louisiana, he rose to become Lieutenant.

After the war, Caffery was initially employed as a civil servant before a court, before he was admitted to the bar in 1867 and commenced practice in Franklin. He also operated a sugar plantation. He had held in 1879 as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of the State of his first public office. From 1892 to 1893 he was a member of the Senate of Louisiana.

As a U.S. Senator Randall L. Gibson in December 1892 passed away, Donelson Caffery was appointed as his successor. He took his seat in Washington, D.C. December 31, 1892 and remained there after a re-election in 1894 until March 3, 1901; for another legislative session, he decided not to run. During this time, he served as Chairman of the Committee on Enrolled Bills and the Committee on Corporations Organized in the District of Columbia.

During his tenure as Senator Caffery was supported by the National Prohibition Party, a short-lived spin-off of the Prohibition Party nominated as its candidate for the presidential election in 1900. But he has apparently waived the participation in the election; his name appears on any ballot. After his retirement from Congress Caffery was an attorney again and died in 1906 in New Orleans. His grandson, Patrick T. Caffery sat from 1969 to 1973 as a member of parliament from Louisiana House of Representatives of the United States.