John B. Allen

Summary

John Beard Allen (May 18, 1845 – January 28, 1903) was an American lawyer and politician who served as a United States senator from Washington from 1889 to 1893. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as the United States representative from Washington Territory's at-large congressional district in 1889.

John Beard Allen
United States Senator
from Washington
In office
November 20, 1889 – March 3, 1893
Preceded byPosition created
Succeeded byJohn L. Wilson
Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives from Washington Territory's at-large district
In office
March 4, 1889 – November 11, 1889
Preceded byCharles Stewart Voorhees
Succeeded byDistrict eliminated
Personal details
Born(1845-05-18)May 18, 1845
Crawfordsville, Indiana
DiedJanuary 28, 1903(1903-01-28) (aged 57)
Seattle, Washington
Political partyRepublican
Alma materUniversity of Michigan
Signature
Military service
AllegianceUnited States of America
Union
Branch/serviceUnion Army
Years of service1864
RankPrivate
Unit135th Indiana Infantry Regiment
Battles/warsAmerican Civil War

Early life edit

Allen was born in Crawfordsville, Indiana on May 18, 1845.[1]

Career edit

He served as a private in the Union Army with the 135th Indiana Volunteers during the American Civil War.[1] He earned a law degree from the University of Michigan and passed the bar in 1869.

He moved to Washington in 1870,[1] and started a law practice in Olympia.

He served as United States Attorney for the District of Washington (1875–1885), and as reporter for the supreme court for the Territory of Washington from 1878 to 1885.

He was a Republican Delegate to the United States House of Representatives in 1889, and after Washington achieved statehood, he was elected and served in the United States Senate from 1889 to 1893. After the legislature failed to select a Senator for the following term, Allen was appointed by the Governor of Washington, but was not seated by the Senate.[2]

Death and legacy edit

After leaving public office, Allen went into private law practice in Seattle, Washington, where he died of cardiovascular disease in 1903.[1]

John B. Allen Elementary School was dedicated in 1904, part of the Seattle School District. Seattle School District architect, James Stephens, designed the two-story, wooden building, which housed 278 students at the end of its first year. In 1917, the District opened a second brick building and enrollment increased, peaking at 758 in 1933. The school closed in June 1981.

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d Who Was Who in American History - the Military. Chicago: Marquis Who's Who. 1975. p. 8. ISBN 0837932017.
  2. ^ The Legacy Preservation Library, via www.usgennet.org

External links edit

Political offices
Preceded by Delegate to the United States House of Representatives from Washington Territory
March 4, 1889–November 11, 1889
Succeeded by
Position eliminated at statehood
U.S. Senate
Preceded by
None (position created at statehood)
United States Senator
from Washington

November 20, 1889–March 3, 1893
Succeeded by