Page:Autobiographies and portraits of the President, cabinet, Supreme court, and Fifty-fifth Congress (IA autobiographiesp02neal).pdf/207

 ORVILLE H. PLATT

, of Meriden, was born at Washington, Conn., July 19, 1827; received an academic education; studied law at Litchfield; was admitted to the bar in 1849 and has since practiced law at Meriden; was clerk of the State senate of Connecticut in 1855–56; was secretary of state of Connecticut in 1857; was a member of the State senate in 1861-62; was a member of the State house of representatives in 1864 and 1869, serving the last year as speaker; was elected to the United States Senate as a Republican, to succeed William H. Barnum, Democrat (who had been elected to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of Orris S. Ferry, Republican); took his seat March 18, 1879; was reëlected in 1885, 1890, and 1897. His term of service will expire March 8, 1903.