John Creswell

John Creswell
23rd United States Postmaster General
In office March 5, 1869 – June 22, 1874
President	Ulysses S. Grant
Preceded by	Alexander Randall
Succeeded by	James William Marshall
United States Senator from Maryland
In office March 9, 1865 – March 3, 1867
Preceded by	Thomas Holliday Hicks
Succeeded by	George Vickers
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Maryland's 1st district
In office March 4, 1863 – March 3, 1865
Preceded by	John W. Crisfield
Succeeded by	Hiram McCullough
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates from the Cecil County district
In office 1861–1862 Serving with Andrew McIntire and Hamilton Morton
Preceded by	James W. Maxwell, Andrew McIntire, William R. Miller
Succeeded by	George W. Boulden, William J. Jones, Slater B. Stubbs
Personal details
Born	John Andrew Jackson Creswell (1828-11-18)November 18, 1828 Creswell's Ferry, Maryland, U.S. (now Port Deposit)
Died	December 23, 1891(1891-12-23) (aged 63) Elkton, Maryland, U.S.
Political party	Whig (before 1856) Democratic (1856–1860) Republican (1860–1891)
Spouse	Hannah J. Richardson
Relatives	Jacob Tome (uncle)
Education	Dickinson College (BA)

John Andrew Jackson Creswell (November 18, 1828 – December 23, 1891)^[1] was an American politician and abolitionist from Maryland, who served as United States Representative, United States Senator, and as Postmaster General of the United States appointed by President Ulysses S. Grant. Creswell is considered to be one of the ablest, if not the best, Postmaster General in United States history.^[2] Creswell modernized the U.S. Postal system to adapt to an expanding demand for increased postal routes throughout the Western states and remain competitive worldwide. Creswell also integrated the U.S. Postal system appointing both male and female African American postmasters throughout the United States, giving them significant positions of federal authority. Sweeping and constructive reforms of the U.S. Postal system took place during Creswell's tenure, including securing fair competition among Star Route carriages, and the abolishment of the franking system. Creswell developed a codified classification system of offenses against postal laws.^[2] Creswell streamlined and reduced postal costs making the United States Postal System run efficiently creating a fair pricing system domestically, and reducing international mailing prices. Creswell developed and implemented the United States first penny postcard.^[2]

After attending a local academy, Creswell graduated from Dickinson College in 1848 and passed the bar in 1850. A former Whig, Creswell joined the Democratic Party and supported James Buchanan for president. When the Civil War broke in 1861, Creswell remained loyal to the Union and supported Abraham Lincoln. Creswell joined the Radical Republicans and supported the end of slavery and the civil rights of African Americans. In 1861, Creswell was elected to represent Cecil County in the Maryland House of Delegates and served until 1862, where he helped keep the state from joining the Confederacy. In 1862 Creswell was elected U.S. Representative and served from 1863 to 1865. Creswell was elected U.S. Senator in 1864 and served from 1865 to 1867. In 1868 Creswell supported Ulysses S. Grant for president. In 1869, President Grant appointed the "gifted and debonair" Creswell as Postmaster General. His appointment by Grant was very popular in Maryland whose citizens considered themselves part of the South. Having retired as Postmaster, Creswell was appointed by President Grant as an Alabama Claims Commissioner and served from 1874 to 1876. Creswell returned to private law practice and worked in the banking industry.

Modern historians, starting in the 1960s and continuing into the 21st century, have taken a renewed interest in Creswell as a forgotten abolitionist and for his appointments and integration of both male and female African Americans to prominent positions in the U.S. Postal system, viewing him as "a man of the future".