Galusha A. Grow

Galusha A. Grow
24th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
In office July 4, 1861 – March 4, 1863
Preceded by	William Pennington
Succeeded by	Schuyler Colfax
Leader of the House Republican Conference
In office July 4, 1861 – March 4, 1863
Preceded by	William Pennington
Succeeded by	Schuyler Colfax
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania
In office March 4, 1851 – March 3, 1863
Preceded by	David Wilmot
Succeeded by	William Henry Miller
Constituency	12th district (1851–53) 14th district (1853–63)
In office February 26, 1894 – March 3, 1903
Preceded by	William Lilly
Succeeded by	John M. Morin (1913)
Constituency	at-large district
Personal details
Born	Aaron Galusha Grow August 31, 1823 Ashford, Connecticut, U.S.
Died	March 31, 1907 (aged 83) near Scranton, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political party	Democratic (1850–57) Republican (1857–1907)
Alma mater	Amherst College
Profession	Attorney
Signature

Galusha Aaron Grow (August 31, 1823 – March 31, 1907) was an American politician, lawyer, writer and businessman, who served as 24th Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1861 to 1863. Elected as a Democrat in the 1850 congressional elections, he switched to the newly organized Republican Party in the mid-1850s when the Democratic Party tried to force the extension of slavery into western territories.

Elected speaker for the 37th Congress, Grow presided over the House during the initial years of the American Civil War. During his tenure Congress passed the landmark Homestead Act of 1862, which he supported. Grow was defeated for reelection in 1862. For over a century he remained the last incumbent House speaker to be defeated, until Speaker Tom Foley lost his seat in 1994.^[1]

After leaving office he continued to speak out on political issues, but did not serve in elective office. Then, 31 years after leaving office, Grow won an 1894 special election to succeed William Lilly. It remains one of the longest known interregnums between terms of service for a House member. Over the course of his career, Grow represented the people of three Pennsylvania congressional districts: the 12th district (1851–1853), 14th district (1853–1863), and Pennsylvania's at-large congressional district (1894–1903).