Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography/Kunkel, John Christian

KUNKEL, John Christian, lawyer, b. in Harrisburg, Pa., 18 Sept., 1816; d. there, 14 Oct., 1870. He was graduated at Jefferson college, Pa., subsequently studied law at the Carlisle law-school, was admitted to the bar of Dauphin county, and soon gained a reputation as a lawyer and a public speaker. During the presidential campaign of 1844 he spoke much in favor of Henry Clay, and the same year was elected to the legislature and served for three consecutive terms. In 1851 he was elected to the state senate, and at the close of the first session was chosen speaker. In 1854, and again in 1856, he was elected to congress as a Whig, and served from 1855 till 1859.