Henry Donnel Foster

For other people named Henry Foster, see Henry Foster (disambiguation).

Henry D. Foster
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania
In office March 4, 1871 – March 3, 1873
Preceded by	John Covode
Succeeded by	Alexander Wilson Taylor
Constituency	21st district
In office March 4, 1843 – March 3, 1847
Preceded by	Albert Gallatin Marchand
Succeeded by	Job Mann
Constituency	19th district
Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives Fayette and Westmoreland counties
In office 1857–1858
Personal details
Born	Henry Donnel Foster (1808-12-19)December 19, 1808 Mercer, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	October 16, 1880(1880-10-16) (aged 71) Irwin, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Resting place	St. Clair Cemetery Greensburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Relatives	John Cabell Breckinridge (cousin)
Alma mater	College of Meadville
Occupation	Politician lawyer

Henry Donnel Foster (December 19, 1808 – October 16, 1880) was an American lawyer and politician who served three terms as a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania from 1843 to 1847, and from 1871 to 1873.

Early life

Henry Donnel Foster was born on December 19, 1808, in Mercer, Pennsylvania, to Samuel Foster. His mother's maiden name was Donnell. His father was a lawyer. Foster pursued classical studies and graduated from the College of Meadville. He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1829.

Career

After graduating, Foster commenced practice in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. He worked as a solicitor for the Pennsylvania Railroad.

Congress

Foster was elected as a Democrat to the Twenty-eighth and Twenty-ninth Congresses.

Later political career

He served as a member of the Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, representing Fayette and Westmoreland counties, in 1857 and 1858.

He was an unsuccessful candidate for election to Congress in 1858. He was also an unsuccessful candidate for Governor in 1860. He unsuccessfully contested the election of John Covode to the Forty-first Congress.

Return to Congress

Foster was again elected to the Forty-second Congress. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1872.

Later career

Foster resumed the practice of law in Greensburg until 1880.

Personal life

Foster had at least two children, Emily and Lizzie.

He was the cousin of John Cabell Breckinridge.

Death and burial

In 1879, Foster moved to Irwin, Pennsylvania. He died on October 16, 1880, in Irwin. He was interred at St. Clair Cemetery in Greensburg.

External links

• United States Congress. "Henry Donnel Foster (id: F000305)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• The Political Graveyard