William Barnum

William Barnum
Chair of theDemocratic National Committee
In office March 4, 1877 – April 30, 1889
Preceded by	Abram Hewitt
Succeeded by	Calvin S. Brice
United States Senator fromConnecticut
In office May 18, 1876 – March 3, 1879
Preceded by	James E. English
Succeeded by	Orville H. Platt
Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromConnecticut's4thdistrict
In office March 4, 1867 – May 18, 1876
Preceded by	John Henry Hubbard
Succeeded by	Levi Warner
Personal details
Born	(1818-09-17)September 17, 1818 Boston Corners,Massachusetts,U.S.
Died	April 30, 1889(1889-04-30)(aged 70) Lime Rock,Connecticut,U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Charlotte Anne Burrell

William Henry Barnum(September 17, 1818 – April 30, 1889) was an Americanpolitician,serving as a state representative, congressman, U.S. senator, and finally as chairman of theDemocratic National Committee.He was also known as "Seven Mule Barnum".

Life and career

Barnum was born inBerkshire County, Massachusetts,the son of Laura (Tibbals) and Milo Barnum.Barnum moved toLime Rock, Connecticut,and served in the state house of representatives from 1851 to 1852. He then served in theUnited States House of Representativesfor Connecticut's 4th District from March 4, 1867, until his resignation on May 18, 1876. Barnum then became aU.S. senator,serving until March 3, 1879. He was chairman of the DNC from 1877 to 1889. He died in Lime Rock on April 30, 1889, and is buried in Lime Rock Cemetery.

In addition to Barnum's political attainments — which also include defeating his third cousin, the famous showmanP. T. Barnum,for Congress, and notably being the longest-serving chair of the Democratic National Committee — Barnum was a prominent industrialist. TheBarnum Richardson Company,of which he was chief executive, was headquartered in Lime Rock (now a neighborhood ofLakeville), and was the leading company in theSalisburyiron district of that time, owning or controlling iron mines, charcoal production resources, limestone quarries, and rail transportation. Barnum Richardson Company was also the preeminent manufacturer of railroad car wheels at a time when the railroad industry held a place in the economy analogous to the computer industry today.

In 1872 he partnered withCollis P. Huntingtonto financeEnsign Manufacturing Company,arailroadfreight carmanufacturer. Among Ensign's products were the largest woodenhopper carsbuilt for theCentral Pacific Railroadas well as a large number of high-capacity woodboxcarsfor theSouthern Pacific Railroad(both railroads were controlled in part by Huntington). Ensign was one of the 13 companies that merged in 1899 to form theAmerican Car and Foundry Company.

William H. Barnum was a founder of the Barnum & Richardson Company of Lime Rock, Connecticut, andChicago,Illinois. The corporation grew to immense profitability and industrial volume, and became one of the foremost metal products manufacturers in the world. William H. Barnum had a nephew,Milo Barnum Richardson,who was a leader in New York City finance and insurance, having acted as a founder of the New York City branch of the Caledonian Life Insurance Company of Scotland. Milo B. Richardson, who also was a leader in the development and management of New England railroads, served as president of the Barnum & Richardson Company. Through the marriage of his sister to Connecticut industrialist and financier Leonard Richardson, William H. Barnum was collaterally related to theJacob BunnandJohn Whitfield Bunnindustrial and financial family ofSpringfield,and Chicago, Illinois.

William H. Barnum was a pioneer inreligious tolerance.Although anEpiscopalian(he was the principal donor for the construction of, and chairman of the incorporators ofTrinity Episcopal Churchin Lime Rock), he did not discriminate againstRoman Catholicsas so many in that area of New England did at the time. Notably, according to several stories in 1883 in theNew York Times,he contributed around $6,000 to St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church of Lakeville, and later contributed $500 to build a new Roman Catholic church inCornwall Bridge.Importantly, when the local community angrily responded to the raising of acrucifixby the local Catholic priest by demanding that Barnum fire all his Catholic workmen, he declined to do so.

References

• Biographical Directory of the United States Congress