John Frederic Hartranft - Harrisburg, PA
Posted by: 
jiggs11
N 40° 15.795 W 076° 53.005
18T E 339846 N 4458677
Located on the State Capitol grounds, this statue memorializes Major General John Frederic Hartranft, who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions at Bull Run, and later served as Governor of PA.
Waymark Code: WM10V39
Location: Pennsylvania, United States
Date Posted: 06/25/2019
Views: 11
John Frederic Hartranft led an adventurous life. Born in Montgomery County, he would earn a degree in Civil Engineering and work for two railroads before the outbreak of the Civil War.
After the war broke out, he commanded a regiment of local volunteers. When their 90-day warrant was up, they elected to return home. Hartranft remained with the Union Army, and was eventually awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions at Bull Run on 21 July, 1861.
He eventually rose to the rank of Major General, and held several key appointments. However it was his actions after the assassination of President Lincoln where he is best remembered. He was the General Officer who delivered the death sentences to the conspirators of the assassination.
After leaving the army, he ventured into politics, becoming Governor of PA in 1872 and serving two terms. After, he was appointed US Postmaster General.
In 1886 he was presented the Medal of Honor for his actions at Bull Run. He died in 1889, aged 58.
The statue was commissioned in 1897 by the Sons of Union Veterans
of the Civil War (SUVCW) the predecessor to the Grand Army of the Republic. It sits in front of the Matthew J. Ryan Building, part of the State Capitol complex.
Information gleaned from Wikipedia (
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