Frank Harris Hitchcock

Frank Harris Hitchcock (October 5, 1867 – August 25, 1935), was chairman of Republican National Committee from 1908 to 1909. He was then Postmaster General of the United States under President William Howard Taft from 1909 to 1913.

Biography

He is credited with establishing the first U.S. airmail service. As Postmaster General, he made prosecution of mail fraud a top priority, and led a major crackdown on people using the mails to sell shares in worthless companies.

According to historian David Leighton, "He graduated from Harvard in 1891 and the George Washington University Law School in 1894. During his time at Harvard he met Theodore Roosevelt at the Audubon Society, both sharing a passion for the study of birds. Hitchcock credited Roosevelt for his success at the national level: From 1897 to 1905 Hitchcock served in the departments of Agriculture and Commerce. From 1905-08, he was assistant postmaster general."

Images

• 

  Hitchcock with T. Coleman du Pont

• 

  Edward M. Morgan, Frank Harris Hitchcock, and Earle Lewis Ovington in his Blériot XI

• 

  Edward M. Morgan, Frank Harris Hitchcock, and Earle Lewis Ovington in his Blériot XI

Political offices
Preceded by George von L. Meyer	United States Postmaster General Served under: William Howard Taft March 5, 1909 – March 4, 1913	Succeeded by Albert S. Burleson
Party political offices
Preceded by Harry S. New	Chairman of the Republican National Committee 1908–1909	Succeeded by John F. Hill

External links

• David Leighton, "Street Smarts: General Hitchcock Highway remembers a man whose influence went from D.C. to Tucson and back," Arizona Daily Star, Feb. 25, 2014