Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)/Conkling, Roscoe

CONKLING, ROSCOE, an American legislator; born in Albany, N. Y., Oct. 30, 1829; was admitted to the bar in 1850; sat in Congress as a Republican in 1858-1862 and 1864-1866, and was elected to the United States Senate in 1867, 1873, and 1879, He became an influential member of his party; in 1876 he received 93 votes for the Presidential nomination, and in 1880, by his support of Grant and his personal opposition to Blaine, divided the Republicans into two sections. In 1881 he and his colleague, Thomas C. Platt, suddenly resigned from the Senate, owing to a dispute with President Garfield on a question of patronage, and sought re-election; but after a warm canvass both were rejected, though vigorously supported by Vice-president Arthur. Conkling afterward practiced law in New York City. He died April 18, 1888.