Murphy J. Foster

Murphy James Foster, Sr. (* January 12, 1849 in Franklin, St. Mary Parish, Louisiana, † June 21, 1921 ) was an American politician and 1892-1900 Governor of the State of Louisiana. Between 1901 and 1913 he represented his state in the U.S. Senate.

Early years

Murphy Foster was born on the plantation of his parents in Louisiana. He attended primary school in Whites Creek in Nashville, Tennessee. He then studied at Washington and Lee University in Virginia and at Cumberland University in Tennessee. With a law degree from Tulane University in Louisiana today, he finished his education in 1871. He then worked as a lawyer in Franklin.

Political rise

Foster was a member of the Democratic Party. During the disputed gubernatorial election of 1872 he supported John McEnery. When he lost his position at William P. Kellogg, following a decision by President Ulysses S. Grant to Foster joined a coalition against Kellogg. Between 1879 and 1892 Foster was a member of the Senate of Louisiana. Between 1888 and 1890 he was president of that body. He entered a against an extension of the concession of the corrupt lottery company. On April 19, 1892, he was elected with the support of farmer associations and the opponents of the lottery company as the new governor of his state.

Governor of Louisiana

Murphy Foster took up his new post on 10 May 1892. After a re-election in 1896 he was able to remain in this position until May 21, 1900. However, the election of 1896 was controversial, as there may have been fraud on the part of Foster's. During his tenure as governor, he sent in 1892 to suppress a strike the militia to New Orleans. In 1893 he supported the suffering from a drought residents of Nebraska with food. In the same year there was a flood disaster in Louisiana. Parts of the population had to be evacuated and housed in tent camps. The lottery company has now officially disbanded and adopt new election laws. The governor was also a supporter of racial segregation. A change in the state constitution in 1898 the disadvantaged African- Americans significantly. In the railways racially separate compartments were introduced. Under the new electoral laws Foster was not allowed to run for a third term in office. Therefore, he left in May 1900 has his office.

U.S. Senator

After the end of his governorship Foster was elected to the U.S. Senate. There, he joined as a Class 2 senator succeeds Donelson Caffery. After he was confirmed in 1907 in this office, he retained his seat in Congress until March 3, 1913. He was chairman of the committee that dealt with the transport and sale of meat products. In the congressional elections of 1912 Foster was defeated by Joseph E. Ransdell, then in March 1913 became his successor in the Senate.

Further CV

In 1914, Foster was U.S. President Woodrow Wilson appointed head of the customs authority (Collector of the port) appointed in the port of New Orleans. This office he held until 1921. He died in June this year on his plantation near Franklin. Murphy Foster was married twice and had ten children. His grandson, Mike Foster should also be Governor of Louisiana between 1996 and 2004.

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