43 Facts About Leon Abbett

Leon Abbett was an American Democratic Party politician and lawyer who served two nonconsecutive terms as the 26th Governor of New Jersey from 1884 to 1887 and 1890 to 1893.

Leon Abbett was popularly known as the "Great Commoner" for his advocacy on behalf of ordinary citizens, and presided over a wide range of reforms during his time as governor.

Leon Abbett failed in two attempts to win election to the United States Senate.

Leon Abbett's mother was born to a prominent but not wealthy family in Mauricetown, New Jersey and operated a millinery shop.

Leon Abbett was admitted to the bar in 1857, engaging in practice with his instructor.

In 1864, Leon Abbett entered politics by campaigning for General George McClellan's presidential campaign against Abraham Lincoln.

Leon Abbett opposed the expansion of federal power during the Reconstruction era.

Leon Abbett gained statewide recognition by defending Democratic US Senator John P Stockton after his expulsion by the Republican Senate.

In 1867, Leon Abbett moved to Jersey City to broaden his political base.

Leon Abbett was re-elected to the General Assembly for the next two years and elevated to Speaker of the Assembly.

In 1871, Leon Abbett spoke out against the state revision of the Jersey City charter, which removed many Irish officeholders in the name of anti-corruption and replaced them with appointed commissioners.

In 1874, Leon Abbett was elected to the State Senate from Hudson County by promising to restore home rule.

Leon Abbett broke sharply with the dominant "State House Ring," led by former Governor and Hudson County Senator Theodore Fitz Randolph, by supporting Robert Gilchrist against Randolph.

Leon Abbett kept his campaign pledge by obtaining passage of a reform municipal charter restoring home rule and gained further support from Catholics by passage of a "Liberty of Conscience" bill allowing priests access to state penal and mental institutions.

Leon Abbett won support from organized labor by sponsoring a statute requiring employers to pay in cash.

Leon Abbett drafted an additional statute giving employees of the bankrupt Jersey Central Railroad the right to claim their salaries as a prior lien on the assets of the company.

Leon Abbett showed party loyalty by campaigning for McClellan through the fall.

Leon Abbett left office at the end of his term but remained a major player in Hudson County and state politics as corporation counsel for Jersey City.

Leon Abbett returned in 1880 upon learning that his rival, Orestes Cleveland, was seeking the governor's office.

In 1883, Leon Abbett was nominated for Governor for the first time.

Leon Abbett conducted a vigorous campaign in favor of railroad taxation.

Leon Abbett made the rail tax issue a major thrust of his inaugural message, setting up his first term for conflict with the railroads.

Leon Abbett maintained his practice of appointment by spoils, displeasing civil service reformers.

However, conservative pro-rail Democrats identified with the State House Ring withheld their support from Leon Abbett, leading to the election of Rufus Blodgett instead.

Leon Abbett took the defeat hard and became legal counsel for the state liquor dealers' association, an important source of campaign funds.

Leon Abbett remained popular in his time out of office and was recruited to run for a second non-consecutive term in 1889.

Leon Abbett faced Republican iron magnate and Civil War hero Edward Burd Grubb Jr.

On his return to office, Leon Abbett seized on outrage over the fraud in the 1889 election by proposing a ballot reform law.

Leon Abbett's appointments were a mix of competent men and corrupt Hudson County machine workers.

In 1890, Leon Abbett defused a labor strike at the Clark Thread Mills in Kearney, where management had hired Pinkerton detectives as strikebreakers, by deputizing the Jersey City police to restore order.

Leon Abbett then called for the establishment of the first state police force.

In 1891, Leon Abbett again intervened in a labor dispute at the Oxford Iron and Nail Company in Warren County, where workers were starved by a winter lockout.

Leon Abbett successfully appealed for public support to sustain both vetoes.

Leon Abbett died in 1894 in his Jersey City home after an attack of diabetes.

Leon Abbett was buried in Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York.

Leon Abbett married Mary Briggs of Philadelphia on October 8,1862.

Leon Abbett died of cancer at forty years old in 1879.

Leon Abbett was short and stocky, standing five feet eight inches and weighing about 175 pounds.

Leon Abbett had a round face with a high forehead, broad shoulders, brown wavy hair, bright blue eyes, and large bushy eyebrows.

Leon Abbett sported a wide mustache and full beard for his entire public career.

Leon Abbett was a Master of Mystic Tie Lodge No 272 in New York, but later moved to Varick Lodge No 31 in Jersey City, New Jersey.

Leon Abbett was the Grand Representative of Ireland near the Grand Lodge of New Jersey from 1886 to 1894.

Leon Abbett was a Royal Arch Mason, a member of Ancient Chapter No 1, New York City.