Marshall Jewell

Marshall Jewell
Photo by Mathew Brady
Chair of the Republican National Committee
In office July 2, 1880 – February 10, 1883
Preceded by	J. Donald Cameron
Succeeded by	Dwight M. Sabin
25th United States Postmaster General
In office August 24, 1874 – July 12, 1876
President	Ulysses S. Grant
Preceded by	James Marshall
Succeeded by	James Tyner
United States Minister to Russia
In office December 9, 1873 – July 19, 1874
President	Ulysses S. Grant
Preceded by	James Orr
Succeeded by	George Boker
44th and 46th Governor of Connecticut
In office May 16, 1871 – May 7, 1873
Lieutenant	Morris Tyler
Preceded by	James E. English
Succeeded by	Charles Ingersoll
In office May 5, 1869 – May 4, 1870
Lieutenant	Francis Wayland III
Preceded by	James E. English
Succeeded by	James E. English
Personal details
Born	(1825-10-20)October 20, 1825 Winchester, New Hampshire, U.S.
Died	February 10, 1883(1883-02-10) (aged 57) New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.
Political party	Whig (Before 1854) Republican (1854–1883)
Signature

Marshall Jewell (October 20, 1825 – February 10, 1883) was a manufacturer, pioneer telegrapher, telephone entrepreneur, world traveler, and political figure who served as 44th and 46th Governor of Connecticut, the US Minister to Russia, the 25th United States Postmaster General, and Republican Party National Chairman. Jewell, distinguished for his fine "china" skin, grey eyes, and white eyebrows, was popularly known as the "Porcelain Man".^[1] As Postmaster General, Jewell made reforms and was intent on cleaning up the Postal Service from internal corruption and profiteering. Postmaster Jewell helped Secretary of the Treasury Benjamin H. Bristow shut down and prosecute the Whiskey Ring. President Grant, however, became suspicious of Jewell's loyalty after Jewell fired a Boston postmaster over non payment of a surety bond and asked for his resignation.^[1]

A native of New Hampshire, Jewell was the son of a prominent tanner and currier. Having apprenticed in his father's tannery business,^[2] Jewell moved to Boston where he learned the art of being a currier. In 1847, Jewell moved to Hartford where he worked for his father's business as a currier. Jewell stopped working as a currier and became a skilled telegrapher, where he worked in New York, Ohio, and Tennessee. Jewell was a Whig who supported the election of Zachary Taylor to the office of the presidency. Having supported Taylor, Jewell moved to Mississippi where he was elected General Superintendent of Telegraphers.^[2] Jewell moved back to New York in 1849, and in 1850 he returned to his father's tannery business having entered into partnership with his father. Between 1859 and 1860, Jewell traveled to and visited Europe on business connected with the tannery firm, having returned to the United States during the onset of the American Civil War. In 1865 Jewell returned to Europe and traveled to Egypt and the Holy Land.^[2]

Having returned to the United States, Jewell, a Republican, ran for Connecticut state senator in 1867; however, he failed to win the election.^[3] In 1868, Jewell ran for the office of Connecticut Governor; however, he lost the election.^[3] Jewell ran again the following year and was elected Governor of Connecticut in 1869, serving from 1869 until 1870, and was defeated in the 1870 election. Jewell was reelected to the governorship in 1871 and 1872, and served until 1873. In 1873, Jewell was appointed Consul to Russia by President Ulysses S. Grant and served until 1874 when he was appointed by President Grant as Postmaster General of the United States, a position he held until 1876. Jewell was also a presidential candidate at the 1876 Republican National Convention and served as the chairman of the Republican National Committee from 1880 until 1883. Having returned to Connecticut, Jewell became a wealthy merchant, having invested in the Hartford Evening Post and the Southern New England Telephone Company.^[1][3] He died in 1883 in New Haven, Connecticut, and was interred at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Hartford, Connecticut.^[4]