George L. Converse

George Leroy Converse (June 4, 1827 – March 30, 1897) was an American lawyer and politician who served three terms as a U.S. representative from Ohio, representing three different districts from 1879 to 1885.

Life and career Born in Georgesville, Ohio, Converse attended the common schools and Ohio Central College, and was graduated from Denison University, Granville, Ohio, in 1849. He studied law. He was admitted to the bar in 1851 and commenced practice in Columbus, Ohio, in 1852.

Early career He served as prosecuting attorney of Franklin County in 1857. He served as member of the State house of representatives from 1860 to 1863 and from 1874 to 1876 and speaker of the house in 1874. He served as member of the State senate in 1864 and 1865.

Congress Converse was elected as a Democrat to the Forty-sixth, Forty-seventh, and Forty-eighth Congresses (March 4, 1879 – March 3, 1885). He served as chairman of the Committee on Public Lands (Forty-sixth Congress). He was not a candidate for renomination in 1884 to the Forty-ninth Congress.

Later career He resumed the practice of law and served as delegate to the Nicaraguan Canal Convention in 1892, and made chairman of this and the subsequent convention held in New Orleans.

Death He died in Columbus, Ohio, March 30, 1897. He was interred in Green Lawn Cemetery there.