John Andrew Shulze

John Andrew Shulze (* July 19, 1774 in Tulpehocken, Pennsylvania, † November 18, 1852 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania ) was an American politician and from 1823 to 1829 the 6th Governor of the State of Pennsylvania.

Early years and political rise

John Shulze came from the mother of the Muhlenberg family, which played a significant role in early American history. His father was the Protestant missionary Emanuel Schultze from the Thuringian Probstzella. Shulze grew up in German. Even in later years was his German accent in English, not audible. He attended Franklin College and was ordained in 1796 by the Ministry of Pennsylvania as a Lutheran pastor. But in 1802 he gave up his spiritual position for health reasons. After his recovery, he opened a shop in Myerstown.

Shulzes political career began in 1806 when he was elected to the House of Representatives from Pennsylvania. This mandate he held three legislatures. Between 1813 and 1821 he was employed in various management positions in Lebanon County. In 1821 he was again in the state legislature and elected in 1822 in the Senate of Pennsylvania. In 1823 he won the election for governor of his state.

Governor of Pennsylvania

Shulze took up his new post on 16 December 1823. After a re-election in 1826 he was able to serve until December 15, 1829. During this period, the country's infrastructure was expanded. In addition to the road network, especially the waterways were promoted. Even at this early stage has already been discussed on the construction of railway lines, which should open up the country and connect with other parts of the East Coast. The actual construction of the railways was then made in the years after Shulzes tenure. A planned by major school reform could not be enforce politically at that time. The plans were however taken up and implemented by his successor George Wolf.

Further CV

After the end of his governorship Shulze moved into the Lycoming County, where he bought a farm and farmed. Originally he was a member of the Democratic- Republican Party. After its dissolution in the 1820s he joined the Whigs. In December 1839 he was a delegate to the national convention in Harrisburg and in 1840 he was one of the electors of William Henry Harrison, who was elected to the U.S. President. After that Shulze withdrew from politics. He later moved to Lancaster, where he died in 1852. He was married to Susan Kimmell, with whom he had five children.