Biography.guide
Home › People › Politician › John Findlay
Portrait of John Findlay

John Findlay

1766 – 1838

American politician

Don't just read it — keep itBiographies to ownE-book · Audio · Video From $7 →

About John Findlay

Lived 1766 – 1838 (aged 72). John Findlay was an American politician.

John Findlay (March 31, 1766 – November 5, 1838) was an American politician and served two terms as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 5th congressional district.

Biography John Findlay was born in Mercersburg in the Province of Pennsylvania as the oldest son of Samuel Findlay and Jane (née Smith). His younger brothers were William Findlay and James Findlay. All three brothers became politicians, serving at national, state and local levels. William served two terms as governor of Pennsylvania, and James served as mayor of Cincinnati before the War of 1812, and later as US Representative, from 1825 to 1833.

Findlay served as a prothonotary from 1809 to 1821. He served as a captain in the War of 1812. He moved to Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, where he served as a register and recorder of deeds, generally considered an advantageous appointment. He later was appointed as a clerk of the orphans' court and clerk of the court of quarter sessions, serving from 1809 to 1818.

Findlay joined the Republican Party. He won a special election to the Seventeenth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of James Duncan. He was reelected as a Jackson Republican to the Eighteenth Congress and elected as a Jacksonian to the Nineteenth Congress.

He was not a candidate for renomination in 1826. Appointed as US postmaster of Chambersburg on March 20, 1829, he served until his death there in 1838. He was buried in Falling Spring Presbyterian Church Cemetery at Chambersburg.

Biography shop

Don’t just read it —
keep it.

Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.

  • E-book
  • Audio
  • Video
Browse the shop — from $7

Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free

Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Nationality
Positions held
United States representative

People in John Findlay's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped John Findlay's

Frequently asked questions

Who was John Findlay?

American politician

When was John Findlay born?

John Findlay was born on 31 March 1766 in Mercersburg.

When did John Findlay die?

John Findlay died on 5 November 1838 in Chambersburg.

What was John Findlay's occupation?

John Findlay was a politician.

What nationality was John Findlay?

John Findlay was American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: John Findlay

· Wikidata: Q6233139

· DBpedia: John Findlay (American politician)

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). John Findlay. https://biography.guide/john-findlay/

MLA: "John Findlay." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/john-findlay/.

Chicago: "John Findlay." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/john-findlay/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

Page generated 2026-09-27 05:21 UTC