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's 21st district
In office March 4, 1871 – March 3, 1873
Preceded by	John Covode
Succeeded by	Alexander Wilson Taylor
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 19th district
In office March 4, 1843 – March 3, 1847
Preceded by	Albert Gallatin Marchand
Succeeded by	Job Mann
Personal details
Born	(1808-12-19)December 19, 1808 Mercer, Pennsylvania
Died	Irwin, Pennsylvania
Political party	Democratic
Alma mater	College of Meadville

Henry Donnel Foster (December 19, 1808 – October 16, 1880) was a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania.

Biography

Henry D. Foster (cousin of John Cabell Breckinridge) was born in Mercer, Pennsylvania. He pursued classical studies, and graduated from the College of Meadville. He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1829 and commenced practice in Greensburg, Pennsylvania.

Foster was elected as a Democrat to the Twenty-eighth and Twenty-ninth Congresses. He served as a member of the Pennsylvania State House of Representatives 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. Foster was again elected to the Forty-second Congress. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1872. He resumed the practice of law in Greensburg. He moved to Irwin, Pennsylvania, in 1879 and died there in 1880. Interment in St. Clair Cemetery in Greensburg.

Sources

• Henry Donnel Foster at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• The Political Graveyard

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by Albert G. Marchand	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 19th congressional district 1843–1847	Succeeded by Job Mann
Preceded by John Covode	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 21st congressional district 1871–1873	Succeeded by Alexander W. Taylor