Donelson Caffery
Encyclopedia
Donelson Caffery was an American politician
from the state of Louisiana
, a distinguished soldier in the American Civil War
, and a sugar plantation owner.
, Louisiana
the seat of St. Mary Parish
. His great-grandfather, Colonel John Donelson, co-founder of the city of Nashville, was the father-in-law of President Andrew Jackson. During the American Civil War
, Caffery served in the Confederate
army as a lieutenant
in the 13th Louisiana infantry regiment. After the war he became a lawyer
and owned a sugar
plantation. He was elected to the Louisiana State Senate and in 1892, he was appointed to the United States Senate
from Louisiana to fill the unexpired term of Randall L. Gibson
who died in office. Caffery began a full six-year term in 1894, on election by the Louisiana State Legislature
,and he served in the Senate until 1901. He was the first nominee for President of the Democratic National Party at its Indianapolis Convention in 1900 but declined the nomination. He declined to seek a second full term in 1900. Strangely, a group of anti-imperialists, meeting in New York on 5 September 1900, nominated Caffery for President and Boston attorney and historian Archibald M. Howe
for Vice President. Caffery, a staunch Democrat, refused this nomination, and Howe quickly withdrew as well.
He was a member of the Democratic Party and served as chairman of the Senate Committee on enrolled bills from 1893 to 1894 and as chairman of the Senate Committee on corporations organized in the District of Columbia from 1899 to 1901.
After he left the Senate, Caffery resumed practicing law. He died in New Orleans, Louisiana
and is buried in Franklin Cemetery in Franklin.
Caffery's grandson, Patrick T. Caffery
, served two terms in the U.S. House from 1969-73.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from the state of Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, a distinguished soldier in the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, and a sugar plantation owner.
Biography
Caffery was born in FranklinFranklin, Louisiana
Franklin is a city in and the parish seat of St. Mary Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 8,354 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Morgan City Micropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
the seat of St. Mary Parish
St. Mary Parish, Louisiana
St. Mary Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Franklin. As of 2000, the population was 53,500.The Morgan City Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of St. Mary Parish.-Geography:...
. His great-grandfather, Colonel John Donelson, co-founder of the city of Nashville, was the father-in-law of President Andrew Jackson. During the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, Caffery served in the Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
army as a lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in the 13th Louisiana infantry regiment. After the war he became a lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and owned a sugar
Sugar
Sugar is a class of edible crystalline carbohydrates, mainly sucrose, lactose, and fructose, characterized by a sweet flavor.Sucrose in its refined form primarily comes from sugar cane and sugar beet...
plantation. He was elected to the Louisiana State Senate and in 1892, he was appointed to the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
from Louisiana to fill the unexpired term of Randall L. Gibson
Randall L. Gibson
-External links:*...
who died in office. Caffery began a full six-year term in 1894, on election by the Louisiana State Legislature
Louisiana State Legislature
The Louisiana State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is bicameral body, comprising the lower house, the Louisiana House of Representatives with 105 representatives, and the upper house, the Louisiana Senate with 39 senators...
,and he served in the Senate until 1901. He was the first nominee for President of the Democratic National Party at its Indianapolis Convention in 1900 but declined the nomination. He declined to seek a second full term in 1900. Strangely, a group of anti-imperialists, meeting in New York on 5 September 1900, nominated Caffery for President and Boston attorney and historian Archibald M. Howe
Archibald M. Howe
Archibald Murray Howe , was a lawyer and historian from Massachusetts. In 1900, he was named as the Vice Presidential candidate of the short-lived "National Party," set up to fight the alleged imperialist policies of President William McKinley....
for Vice President. Caffery, a staunch Democrat, refused this nomination, and Howe quickly withdrew as well.
He was a member of the Democratic Party and served as chairman of the Senate Committee on enrolled bills from 1893 to 1894 and as chairman of the Senate Committee on corporations organized in the District of Columbia from 1899 to 1901.
After he left the Senate, Caffery resumed practicing law. He died in New Orleans, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
and is buried in Franklin Cemetery in Franklin.
Caffery's grandson, Patrick T. Caffery
Patrick T. Caffery
Patrick Thomson Caffery is a retired Louisiana politician and former United States Representative from Louisiana's 3rd congressional district....
, served two terms in the U.S. House from 1969-73.