George A. Jenks

Who was George A. Jenks?

George A. Jenks was a politician from Pennsylvania and Solicitor General.

Jenks was born in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania on March 25, 1836. He proceeded to graduate from Jefferson College in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, in 1858. He was a member of Phi Kappa Psi. Two years later he married Mary A. Mabon, and they had one daughter. Jenks first worked as a lawyer before beginning a career as a judge and politician. He served as a Congressmen for Pennsylvania from 1875–1877, in the 44th Congress. He served as chairman of the United States House Committee on Invalid Pensions during the Forty-fourth Congress. He was also one of the managers appointed by the House of Representatives in 1876 to conduct the impeachment proceedings against William W. Belknap, ex-Secretary of War.

Following his tenure in Congress, Jenks was nominated for judge of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania in 1880, before being selected as U.S. Assistant Secretary of Interior; a position which he held from 1885-1886.

From 1886-1889 Jenks served as United States Solicitor General, during President Grover Cleveland’s first term.