Henry Donnel FOSTER, Congress, PA (1808-1880)

FOSTER, Henry Donnel, (cousin of John Cabell Breckinridge), a Representative from Pennsylvania; born in Mercer, Mercer County, Pa., December 19, 1808; pursued classical studies; was graduated from the College of Meadville; studied law; was admitted to the bar in 1829 and commenced practice in Greensburg, Pa.; elected as a Democrat to the Twenty-eighth and Twenty-ninth Congresses (March 4, 1843-March 3, 1847); member of the State house of representatives in 1857 and 1858; unsuccessful candidate for election in 1858 to the Thirty-sixth Congress; unsuccessful candidate for Governor in 1860; unsuccessfully contested the election of John Covode to the Forty-first Congress; elected to the Forty-second Congress (March 4, 1871-March 3, 1873); unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1872 to the Forty-third Congress; resumed the practice of law in Greensburg, Pa.; moved to Irwin, Westmoreland County, Pa., in 1879 and died there October 16, 1880; interment in St. Clair Cemetery, Greensburg, Pa.

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present