Francis R. Shunk
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FrancisShunk.jpg
FrancisShunk.jpg
Francis R. Shunk
Francis Rawn Shunk (7 August 1788 - 9 July 1848) was governor of Pennsylvania from 1845 to 1848. Born into a poor family, Shunk served in the Pennsylvania militia during the War of 1812. Both before and after the war, he served as a clerk and secretary in both the executive and legislative branches of Pennsylvania government, where he played an active role in moderating partisan tensions. When Democratic gubernatorial candidate Henry Muhlenberg unexpectedly died in August 1844, Shunk was tapped to run by the Democratic Party and narrowly defeated Whig candidate Joseph Markle. He was re-elected in 1847 but, suffering from tuberculosis, was forced to resign his position on 9 July 1848; he died eleven days later.
| Preceded by: David Rittenhouse Porter | Governor of Pennsylvania 1845–1848 | Succeeded by: William Freame Johnston |