Randall, Samuel J. (Samuel Jackson), 1828-1890

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Samuel Jackson Randall (October 10, 1828 – April 13, 1890) was an American politician from Pennsylvania who served as a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives for Pennsylvania's 1st congressional district from 1863 to 1875 and from Pennsylvania's 3rd congressional district from 1875 to 1890. He served as the 29th Speaker of the House from 1876 to 1881 and was twice a contender for his party's nomination for President of the United States.

Born in Philadelphia to a family active in Whig politics, Randall shifted to the Democratic Party after the Whigs' demise. His rise in politics began in the 1850s with election to the Philadelphia Common Council and then to the Pennsylvania State Senate for the 1st district. Randall served in a Union cavalry unit in the American Civil War before winning a seat in the federal House of Representatives in 1862. He was reelected every two years thereafter until his death. The representative of an industrial region, Randall became known as a staunch defender of protective tariffs designed to assist domestic producers of manufactured goods. While often siding with Republicans on tariff issues, he differed with them in his resistance to Reconstruction and the growth of federal power.

Randall's defense of smaller, less centralized government raised his profile among House Democrats, and they elevated him to Speaker in 1876. He held that post until the Democrats lost control of the House in 1881, and was considered a possible nominee for President in 1880 and 1884. Randall's support for high tariffs began to alienate him from most Democrats, and when that party regained control of the House in 1883, he was denied another term as Speaker. Randall continued to serve in Congress as head of the Appropriations Committee. He remained a respected party leader, but gradually lost influence as the Democrats became more firmly wedded to free trade. Worsening health also curtailed his power until his death in 1890.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf James, Bushrod W. Correspondence with Henry Charles Lea, 1888. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn Connecticut. Court of Common Pleas. Court of Common Pleas case records, 1888-1890. Connecticut Historical Society
referencedIn The cipher dispatches : scrapbook, 1876-1879. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Samuel J. Randall papers Historical Society of Pennsylvania
contributorOf Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984. Letters Received, 1863 - 1917 National Archives Library, National Archives Records Administration
creatorOf Randall, Samuel J. (Samuel Jackson), 1828-1890. Letter : Cape Island, N.J., to William G. Moore, n.p., 1867 Aug. 10. University of Chicago Library
referencedIn Swank, James Moore, 1836-1914. Papers, 1785-1898 (inclusive), 1785, 1871-1898 (bulk). Historical Society of Pennsylvania
creatorOf Randall, Samuel J. (Samuel Jackson), 1828-1890. Correspondence with Henry Charles Lea, 1884-1889. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
creatorOf Holman, William Steele, 1822-1897. Papers, 1836-1998. Indiana University
referencedIn Childs, George William, 1829-1894. George William Childs papers [manuscript], 1882-1892. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Randall, Samuel J. (Samuel Jackson), 1828-1890. Letters of Samuel J. Randall, 1878. Library of Congress
referencedIn Gould, Lewis L. Collection of American Political History 93-389; 93-479; 93-485; 94-025; 94-184; 98-052; 99-095., 1870-1920 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
referencedIn Gould, Lewis L. Gould, Lewis L., Collection of American Political History, 1870-1920 University of Texas Libraries
referencedIn Black, Jeremiah S. (Jeremiah Sullivan), 1810-1883. Jeremiah Sullivan Black Papers, 1813-1894 (inclusive), 1842-1884 (bulk), [microform]. Yale University Library
referencedIn Watterson, Henry, 1840-1921. Henry Watterson : papers, 1863-1946. The Filson Historical Society
referencedIn Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984. Indexes to the Carded Records of Soldiers Who Served in Volunteer Organizations During the Civil War, 1899 - 1927. National Archives Library, National Archives Records Administration
creatorOf Randall, Samuel Jackson, 1828-1890. Signature, [ca. 1850-1890]. Brown University Archives, John Hay Library
referencedIn Sumner, Charles, 1811-1874. Correspondence, 1829-1874 Houghton Library
referencedIn Smithsonian Institution. Office of the Secretary. Correspondence, 1863-1879 Smithsonian Institution Archives
referencedIn PH 2015, Brown, Zina Young Card 1888-1974. Zina Y. Card Brown family photographs circa 1860s-1930s Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Church History Library
creatorOf Randall, Samuel J. (Samuel Jackson), 1828-1890. Letter : Cape Island, N.J., to William G. Moore, n.p., 1867 Aug. 10. Texas Christian University
referencedIn Smithsonian Institution. Office of the Secretary. Correspondence, 1865-1891 Smithsonian Institution Archives
referencedIn Records of the U.S. Coast Guard. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Jeremiah S. Black Papers, 1813-1904, (bulk 1856-1880) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Barton, William Eleazar, 1861-1930, person
associatedWith Black, Jeremiah S. (Jeremiah Sullivan), 1810-1883. person
associatedWith Brown, Zina Young Card 1888-1974 person
associatedWith Centennial Exhibition (Philadelphia, 1876) corporateBody
associatedWith Childs, George William, 1829-1894. person
associatedWith Connecticut. Court of Common Pleas. corporateBody
associatedWith Gould, Lewis L. person
correspondedWith Henry, Joseph, 1797-1878 person
correspondedWith Henry, Joseph, 1797-1878 person
associatedWith Holman, William Steele, 1822-1897. person
associatedWith James, Bushrod W. person
associatedWith Johnson, Andrew, 1808-1875 person
associatedWith Mcquillen, J. H. (Dr.) person
associatedWith Moore, William G. (William George), 1829-1898 person
correspondedWith Peltz, B. R. (Dr.) person
correspondedWith Porter, J. W. person
childOf Randall, Josiah, 1789-1866 person
correspondedWith Sumner, Charles, 1811-1874 person
associatedWith Swank, James Moore, 1836-1914. person
child-in-law of Ward, Aaron, 1790-1867 person
associatedWith Watterson, Henry, 1840-1921. person
associatedWith William E. Barton Collection of Lincolniana (University of Chicago) corporateBody
grandchildOf Worrell, Joseph, 1757-1841 person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Philadelphia PA US
District of Columbia DC US
Philadelphia PA US
Subject
Chemistry
Smithsonian Publications
Occupation
Army officers
Bookkeepers
Businessmen
City Councilman
Public officials
Representatives, U.S. Congress
Speakers of the House, U.S. Congress
State politicians
Activity

Person

Birth 1828-10-10

Death 1890-04-13

Male

Americans

English

Information

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