Lafayette S. Foster Born in Franklin, New London County, Connecticut, November 22, 1806. A lawyer by profession, he spent most of his career in politics. Elected to the Connecticut State Legislature, 1839-40, 1846-48, 1854, 1870. Candidate for Governor of Connecticut in 1850 and 1851. Mayor of Norwich, CT, 1851-52. US Senator from CT, 1855-67. Justice of the Connecticut State Supreme Court, 1870-76. Candidate for the US House of Representatives from Connecticut, 1874. Died in Norwich, CT, Sept. 19, 1880. Foster was elected President pro tempore of the Senate in 1865. Six weeks later, Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. Vice President Andrew Johnson advanced to President, and Foster, as President pro tem, stepped into his place as President of the Senate and de facto Vice President of the US on April 15, 1865. He served in that capacity for almost two years, until in March of 1867 he was replaced as US Senator from Connecticut by Orris S. Ferry. Benjamin F. Wade of Ohio replaced him as President pro tem. Had John Wilkes Booth's original plan to assassinate both Lincoln and Johnson on the same night had been successful, Foster would have become President of the United States.
Preceded by: Francis Gillette Class 3 Senators of Connecticut 1855-1867 Succeeded by: Orris S. Ferry Preceded by: Daniel Clark President pro tempore of the United States Senate May 7, 1865-March 2, 1867 Succeeded by: Benjamin Wade Presidents pro tempore of the United States Senate Langdon • Lee • Langdon • Izard • H Tazewell • Livermore • Bingham • Bradford • Read • Sedgwick • Laurance • Ross • Livermore • Tracy • Howard • Hillhouse • Baldwin • Bradley • Brown • Franklin • Anderson • Smith • Bradley • Milledge • Gregg • Gaillard • Pope • Crawford • Varnum • Gaillard • Barbour • Gaillard • Macon • Smith • L Tazewell • White • Poindexter • Tyler • W R King • Southard • Mangum • Sevier • Atchison • W R King • Atchison • Cass • Bright • Stuart • Bright • Mason • Rusk • Fitzpatrick • Bright • Fitzpatrick • Foot • Clark • Foster • Wade • Anthony • Carpenter • Anthony •
