James William Marshall


James William Marshall was a United States Postmaster General under President Ulysses S. Grant as well as a government administrator in several capacities for presidents Lincoln, Grant, and Hayes. Marshall was the third to last surviving cabinet member of the Grant Administration.

Early life, marriage, and career

James William Marshall was born in Clarke County, Virginia, on August 14, 1822. His mother was Susan Oreah Marshall and his father was James Pede. His grandfather was Rush Marshall. Marshall attended schools at Clarke and Fauquier Counties until 1837. The same year Marshall was removed to Mount Sterling, Kentucky where he was engaged in business. Marshall graduated from Dickinson College, located at Carlisle, Pennsylvania in 1848. After graduation Marshall served as adjunct Professor of Ancient Languages at Dickinson College from 1848 to 1850. Marshall married Jane Stephenson of Carlisle in 1850. Marshall then served as full Professor of Ancient Languages chairmanship from 1850 to 1862.

United States Consul

At the outbreak of the Civil War, Marshal was appointed United States Consul to Leeds, England by President Abraham Lincoln serving four years from 1861 to 1865.

First Assistant Postmaster General (1869-1874)

In 1869 President Ulysses S. Grant appointed Marshall First Assistant Postmaster General serving until 1874.

U.S. Postmaster-General (1874)

In July 1874 President Grant appointed Marshall Postmaster-General serving until the appointment of Marshall Jewell to Postmaster-General in the same year. James Marshall took the place of Postmaster-General John Creswell who had resigned office and was appointed by Grant in 1869. James Marshall served in office until September 1874.

First Assistant Postmaster General (1874-1877)

Marshall was reappointed First Assistant Postmaster-General in 1874 after Marshall Jewell was appointed Postmaster-General the same year. James Marshall continued service until 1877 at the close of the Grant Administration.

Later career

Marshall was appointed General Superintendent of the Railway Mail Service by Postmaster General Key, a southerner, serving under President Rutherford B. Hayes until Key's tenor ended in 1880. Afterwards Marshall retired from political and public life.

Death

On February 5, 1910, Marshall died in Washington D.C. caused by general debility. Marshall was the third to last surviving cabinet member of President Ulysses S. Grant.