James Edward English was a United States Representative and later United States Senator from Connecticut.
Background
James Edward English was born in New Haven, one of, a family of nine children. His father, James English, was a shipowner, and had been a customs officer under President Jefferson. His mother, Nancy Griswold, came of a family prominent in Connecticut local history.
Education
At the age of eleven, James Edward was bound out to a farmer in Bethlehem, Conn. , where he worked two and a half years. After this experience he was sent for two years to a private school, and then was apprenticed to Atwater Treat, a carpenter in New Haven.
Career
At the age of eleven, James Edward was bound out to a farmer in Bethlehem, Connecticut, where he worked two and a half years.
Under the latter’s guidance, he became a designer and contractor.
On reaching the age of twenty-three, with Harmonious M. Welch, he established a lumber company, English & Welch, in New Haven.
He proved to be a successful business man and made money rapidly.
With his growing capital he bought the Jerome Clock Company, originally of Bristol, Conn.
The company was later merged with the New Haven Clock Company.
English also became interested in real estate and banking.
His affairs prospered so consistently that by middle life he was one of the richest men in the state.
He was chosen representative to the Connecticut Assembly in 1855, and state senator in 1856 and 1858.
In 1861 he was elected to Congress, where he entered the group of “War Democrats” supporting the Lincoln Administration.
He spoke but few times in the House, and his remarks upon those occasions were quite brief.
In 1862 he opposed the issue of legal tender notes, preferring to have the government raise money by taxation ( Congressional Globe, 37 Cong. , 2 Sess. , p. 887).
During 1863 he spoke occasionally on tariff matters, to secure terms favorable to Connecticut brass and clock manufacturing interests {Ibid. , 37 Cong. , 3 Sess. , pp. 1317.
1320).
In 1864-65 he was one of the few Democrats to support the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment.
He became governor of Connecticut in 1867, was reelected in 1868, and again in 1870.
Perhaps his most outstanding policy as governor was a plan for local option, to give individual towns in the state the right to decide the liquor question for themselves.
Tn the National Democratic Convention of 1868 English received some consideration as a candidate for the presidency.
In 1875 he was appointed by Governor Ingcrsoll to fill a vacancy in the Senate caused by the death of Orris S. Ferry.
Leaving the Senate in the spring of 1876, he devoted the latter part of his life to his private business in and about New Haven.
Achievements
Politics
Though in politics he professed to be a Democrat of the Jeffersonian type, in reality he was an independent, voting as circumstances seemed to direct, and striving neither for office nor private advancement.
Membership
e was chosen representative to the Connecticut Assembly in 1855, and state senator in 1856 and 1858.
Personality
He was, however, more business man than politician.
Interests
real estate and banking
Music & Bands
From his large fortune he gave liberally to deserving institutions, donating at one time a large sum for the improvement of East Rock Park.
Connections
On January 25, 1837, he married Caroline Augusta Fowler of New Haven. She died in 1874, and some years later, October 7, 1885, he took as his second wife, Anna R. Morris of New York.