John W. Forney was a long-time Pennsylvania ally of James Buchanan and had served from 1851 to 1856 as Clerk of the House of Representatives. He had left to campaign for the U.S. Senate, a race he lost. By 1860, he had switched party allegiance and after the long battle to elect a Republican speaker had been won, Forney once again became Clerk of the House, this time as a Republican. He remained Clerk until June,1868. (By John Osborne)
Source Citation
Francis Vincent, Vincent's Semi-Annual United States Register.... 1st of January and 1st of July, 1860 (Philadelphia: Francis Vincent, 1860), 81.
Record Data
Date Certainty
Exact
Type
Lawmaking/Litigating
