The New Student's Reference Work/Edmunds, George Franklin
Edmunds, George Franklin, an American statesman, was born at Richmond, Vermont, Feb. 1, 1828. He was admitted to the bar in 1849, and sat in the state legislature from 1854 to 1859 and in the state senate from 1861 to 1862. In 1866 he was elected to the senate of the United States, where he served on many important committees, and was president pro tempore after Mr. Arthur became president. He took an active part in the prosecution of President Johnson, and was one of the electoral commissioners appointed in 1877 to decide upon questions connected with the counting of the electoral vote of the disputed presidential election of the previous year. He was the author of the acts of 1882 and 1887 for the suppression of polygamy in Utah. In 1891 he withdrew from political life. He is noted for legal knowledge and great parliamentary skill.