John Rankin Franklin

For other people named John Franklin, see John Franklin (disambiguation).
John Rankin Franklin
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Maryland's 1st district
In office
March 4, 1853 – March 3, 1855
Preceded by Richard Bowie
Succeeded by James A. Stewart
Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates
In office
1849
Preceded by William J. Blakistone
Succeeded by Elias Ware
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates
In office
1843
In office
1849
Personal details
Born May 6, 1820
Worcester County, Maryland, U.S.
Died January 11, 1878 (aged 57)
Snow Hill, Maryland, U.S.
Resting place Makemie Memorial Presbyterian Church
Snow Hill, Maryland, U.S.
Political party Whig
Relations Franklin Upshur (grandson)

John Rankin Franklin (May 6, 1820 – January 11, 1878) was a Congressional Representative for the U.S. state of Maryland. He also served as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates in 1843 and as Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates in 1849.

Early life

John Rankin Franklin was born in Worcester County, Maryland, and graduated from Jefferson College in 1836. He then studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1841.

Career

Franklin opened a law practice in Snow Hill, Maryland. He was a member of the Maryland House of Delegates, representing Worcester County, in 1843, and served as president of the Maryland State Board of Public Works in 1851. He was elected as a Whig to the Thirty-third Congress, and served the 1st Congressional district of Maryland from March 4, 1853, until March 3, 1855. He again became a member of the Maryland House of Delegates and served as the Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates in 1849. Franklin was a judge of the first judicial circuit of Maryland from 1867 until his death.

Personal life

His daughter Sarah E. married George M. Upshur. Her son Franklin Upshur was an assistant state's attorney.

Franklin died on January 11, 1878, in Snow Hill. He is buried in the churchyard of Makemie Memorial Presbyterian Church in Snow Hill.