John Maxwell Coghlan (December 8, 1835 – March 26, 1879) was a California Republican politician who represented California's 3rd congressional district in the 42nd United States Congress from 1871 to 1873.

John M. Coghlan
Member of the
U.S. House of Representatives
from California's 3rd district
In office
March 4, 1871 - March 3, 1873
Preceded byJames A. Johnson
Succeeded byJohn K. Luttrell
Member of the California State Assembly
In office
1865 - 1867
United States Attorney for the Northern District of California
In office
1876 - 1878
Personal details
BornDecember 8, 1835
Louisville, Kentucky
DiedMarch 26, 1879 (aged 43)
Oakland, California
Resting placeMountain View Cemetery
Political partyRepublican

Biography

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Coghlan was born in Louisville, Kentucky and moved with his parents to Illinois in 1847, and again in 1850 to California during the California Gold Rush, where they settled in Suisun City.[1]

Coghlan studied law and was admitted to the bar and practiced in Suisun City.

Political career

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He was a member of the California State Assembly from 1865 to 1867, representing Napa and Lake counties.

Congress

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He was elected as a Republican to the 42nd Congress (1871–1873), but lost his bid for reelection in 1872 to Democrat John K. Luttrell.

Later career and death

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He was the United States Attorney for the Northern District of California from 1876 to 1878, and was appointed Chief Justice of the Territorial Utah Supreme Court, and confirmed by the United States Senate,[2] but declined to serve.[3] He practiced law in Oakland, California until his death in 1879.[1] He is buried in Mountain View Cemetery.

Electoral results

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1871 United States House of Representatives elections in California, District 3
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John M. Coghlan 18,503 51.7
Democratic George Pearce 17,309 48.3
Total votes 35,812 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic
1872 United States House of Representatives elections in California, District 3
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John K. Luttrell 14,032 51.7
Republican John M. Coghlan (Incumbent) 13,105 48.3
Total votes 27,137 100.0
Democratic gain from Republican

References

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  1. ^ a b "COGHLAN, John Maxwell - Biographical Information". bioguide.congress.gov. Retrieved 2019-06-01.
  2. ^ Los Angeles Herald (March 30, 1876), p. 2.
  3. ^ Lewis Francis Byington, History of San Francisco 3 Vols (S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1931). Vol. 3 Pages 10-11.
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Political offices
Preceded by
W. B. H. Dodson
California State Assemblyman, 18th District
(Napa/Lake County seat)

1865–1867
Succeeded by
John C. Crigler
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from California's 3rd congressional district

1871–1873
Succeeded by