RANDALL, SAMUEL JACKSON An American political leader and legislator, Speaker of the National House- of Representa tives from 1876 to 1881. He was the son of Josiah Randall, a prominent lawyer of Philadelphia, where he was born. There he was educated at the University Academy. He early became prom inent in the Whig Party, on the break-up of which both he and his father joined the Demo cratic Party. In 1858 he was elected a member of the State Senate. At the outbreak of the • Civil War he went to the front with the ninety day men as a private in the First Philadelphia City Troop. At the time of Lee's invasion of Pennsylvitnia in 1863, he recruited a company of which lie became captain, and served also as a provost marshal. In November, 1862, he was chosen as a Democrat to represent the First Pennsylvania District in Congress. to which he was thirteen times successively reelected. In the Forty-third Congress (1873-75) he was placed on the Committee on Rules with Blaine, Banks, Garfield, and Cox, and by directing time Demo eratie opposition to the 'Force Bill' won general recognition as the leader of his party in the House. At the opening of the Forty-fourth Con
gress he was appointed chairman of the Commit tee on Appropriations. In December, 1876, he was elected to succeed Speaker Kerr. who had died during the recess of Congress, and thus was called upon to preside during the exciting and critical period of the disputed Hayes-Tilden election. He was reelected Speaker of the Forty fifth and Forty-sixth Congresses (1877-81). After about 18S3 Randall became the leader of a small group of Democrat protectionists who con sistently opposed all attempts at tariff reform. At the Democratic national convention of 18S0 lie received .1281/2 votes on the second ballot for the nomination to the Presidency. With his Pennsylvanian constituents his influence and pop ularity remained strong to the last, and in his last two elections to Congress he was unopposed by the Republicans.