Education
A year later they moved to Palouse, Washington, and French attended public schools and graduated in 1891.
A year later they moved to Palouse, Washington, and French attended public schools and graduated in 1891.
French served as a Republican in the House from 1903 to 1909, 1911 to 1915 and 1917 to 1933. With a combined 26 years in office, he remains the longest-serving United States. House member in Idaho history. French entered the University of Idaho at Moscow in 1893, but interrupted his studies to teach school in Kendrick and Juliaetta, Idaho.
He finished his degree in 1901 and then was a fellow at the University of Chicago 1901–1903 in political science and studied law.
He was admitted to the bar and commenced practice back in Idaho at Moscow. They had a daughter that died as an infant in 1908.
He was originally elected as the sole at-large member from Idaho, representing the entire state. Idaho gained a second seat for the 1912 election and both seats were at-large through the 1916 election.
Beginning with the 1918 election, French represented the state"s First ional District, with the term commencing in March 1919.
Election results
French died in Ohio in 1954 after a year"s battle with leukemia. He had been a professor at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, from 1935 to 1947, when he retired.
French was a member of the state legislature from 1898–1902, first elected while an undergraduate student.