"The Honorable John AJ Crewell

HONORABLE JOHN AJ CRESWELL

Cecil’s Only Son To Serve On A Presidential Cabinet

 John AJ Creswell was born at 1 Center Street Port Deposit, Maryland on November 18, 1828. He attended Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA in 1848. Was admitted to the Baltimore bar in 1850, He served on the Maryland legislature from 1861–62

A strong opponent of slavery, he is credited with being the first Representative to speak for the abolition of slavery as a Constitutional Amendment. This was important since at one time prior his was a slave owning family.

Creswell was a member of the Whig Party before joining the Republican Party. In 1862 he was elected to the 38th Congress he took his seat on 9th March, 1863 serving the rest of War years in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1863–65 and to the U.S. Senate 1865–68. Creswell was considered one of the “Radical Republicans”, whom objected to President Johnson's attempts to veto the Civil Rights Bill and the Reconstruction Acts and he voted for his impeachment in 1868.

Around 1868 he partnered with Port Deposit millionaire Jacob Tome and became the President of the Citizens National Bank of Washington City, then with a capital of $300,000.

In 1869 President Ulysses S. Grant appointed Creswell the first Postmaster General which he served from 1869–70. During that period he completely reorganized and modernized the U.S. Postal system. He introduced penny postcards, and greatly improved transatlantic mail service.

He served as a counsel on the “Alabama claims case” 1871–76 Which addressed records relating to civil war claims between United States and Great Britain.

Later in Life the Honorable Mr. Creswell was head of the Republican Party until his death in 23rd December, 1891.

His home is listed on the National Historic Registry and in the Maryland Historic Trust.