John Bigelow

John Bigelow
Bigelow, 1855–1865
United States Minister to France
In office
April 23, 1865  December 23, 1866
PresidentAndrew Johnson
Preceded byWilliam L. Dayton
Succeeded byJohn Adams Dix
Secretary of State of New York
In office
January 1, 1876  December 31, 1877
GovernorSamuel J. Tilden
Lucius Robinson
Preceded byDiedrich Willers Jr.
Succeeded byAllen C. Beach
Personal details
Born(1817-11-25)November 25, 1817
Malden-on-Hudson, New York, U.S.
DiedDecember 19, 1911(1911-12-19) (aged 94)
New York City
Political partyDemocratic
Children9, including John Bigelow Jr. and Poultney Bigelow

John Bigelow Sr. (November 25, 1817 – December 19, 1911) was an American lawyer, diplomat, and historian who edited the complete works of Benjamin Franklin and the first autobiography of Franklin taken from Franklin's previously lost original manuscript. He played a central role in the founding of the New York Public Library in 1895 and served as the first president of the New York Law School Board of Trustees.