Alphonso Taft

Alphonso Taft (November 5, 1810–May 21, 1891) was the Attorney General and Secretary of War under President Ulysses S. Grant and the founder of an American political dynasty.

Related Topics:
November 5 - 1810 - May 21 - 1891 - Attorney General - Secretary of War - President - Ulysses S. Grant

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Born in Townshend, Vermont, he graduated from Yale College in 1833, where he also was a tutor. At Yale, he and his classmate William Huntington Russell cofounded Skull and Bones, a secret society that exists to this day. He subsequently studied law at the Yale Law School, was admitted to the Connecticut bar in 1838, removed to Cincinnati in 1839 where he was a member of the Cincinnati City Council, and became one of the most influential citizens of Ohio. He was a member of the boards of trustees of the University of Cincinnati and of Yale College.

Related Topics:
Townshend, Vermont - Yale College - 1833 - William Huntington Russell - Skull and Bones - Yale Law School - Connecticut - 1838 - Cincinnati - 1839 - Ohio - University of Cincinnati

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He made an unsuccessful run for the United States House of Representatives in 1856. He was a judge of the Superior Court of Cincinnati from 1866 to 1872. Taft was appointed Secretary of War by President Grant in March, 1876, and three months later Attorney General of the United States.

Related Topics:
United States House of Representatives - 1856 - Superior Court of Cincinnati - 1866 - 1872 - March - 1876

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After he left office as Attorney General in 1877 he returned to the practice of law. He was an unsuccessful candidate for Governor of Ohio in 1875 and 1879. Taft was ambassador to Austria-Hungary in 1882, and to the Imperial Russia from 1884 to 1885.

Related Topics:
1877 - Governor of Ohio - 1875 - 1879 - Austria-Hungary - 1882 - Imperial Russia - 1884 - 1885

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Alphonso Taft died in San Diego, California, on May 21, 1891.

Related Topics:
San Diego, California - May 21 - 1891

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His son, William Howard Taft I, was the 27th President of the United States and was of Yale's Skull and Bones like his founder father; both his grandson and great-grandson, Robert A. Taft I (Skull and Bones) and Robert Taft Jr., were U.S. Senators; his great-great-grandson, Robert A. Taft III, is the current Governor of Ohio. William Howard Taft III was ambassador to Ireland; William Howard Taft IV advises the State Department.

Related Topics:
William Howard Taft I - President of the United States - Skull and Bones - Robert A. Taft I - Robert Taft Jr. - U.S. Senators - Robert A. Taft III - Governor of Ohio - William Howard Taft III - Ireland - William Howard Taft IV - State Department

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