"(February 1, 1828 -- February 27, 1919) George Franklin Edmunds was a(n) public servant, lawyer, member of a electoral commission, and American politician. Edmunds was born in Richmond, Chittenden County, Vermont. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1849. He was a member of the State house of representatives (1854 - 1859), served as speaker for three years, State senate (1861 and 1862) and served as its presiding officer both years. He was also appointed as a member of the Electoral Commission to decide the contests in various states in the presidential election of 1876. He was elected as a Republican to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Solomon Foot, was reelected in 1868, 1874, 1880, 1886, and from April 3, 1866 to his resignation November 1, 1891. He served as President pro tempore of the Senate (47th and 48th Congresses), Chairman on the Republican Conference (49th-51st Congresses), on the Committee on Pensions (41st and 42nd Congresses), on the Committee on the Judiciary (42nd - 45th and 47th - 51st Congresses), on the Committee on Private Land Claims (46th Congress), and on the Committee on Foreign Relations (47th Congress). [Source: 'Biographical Directory of the United States Congress 1774 - Present' available at, https://bioguideretro.congress.gov/Home/MemberDetails?memIndex=E000056]"