Francis P. Kernan was born in Wayne, Steuben County, New York, 14 January 1816, son of General William Kernan, who came to America from County Cavan, Ireland, in 1800, and of Rose Anna Stubbs, his wife. He graduated Georgetown University, D. C., in 1836, studied law, and moved to Utica, New York in 1839, where he was admitted to the bar in July 1840 in the office of Joshua A. Spencer, and later became his partner. In 1843 he married Hannah A. Devereux, daughter of Nicholas Devereux, of Utica, with whom he had ten children. Wayne is a town located in Steuben County, New York. ... Steuben County is a county located in the state of New York. ... January 14 is the 14th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1816 was a leap year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Georgetown University Georgetown University is a major research university in the United States. ... This article is about Utica in New York, USA. For other places with this name, see Utica. ...

Kernan's political services covered a wide range. He was school commissioner of Utica, manager of the New York State Hospital, official reporter of the Court of Appeals from 1854 to 1857 (his "Reports" were published in four volumes), member of NY Assembly from 1860 to 1862, and regent of the State University of New York from 1870 to his death The New York Legislature is the legislative branch of the U.S. state of New York, seated at the states capital, Albany. ... The State University of New York (acronym SUNY; usually pronounced SOO-nee) is a system of public institutions of higher education in New York, United States. ...

He was elected from the Oneida district to U.S. Congress of the United States in 1862 over Roscoe Conkling, the Republican candidate, and served from 1863 till 1865. In 1864 he was a candidate for re-election, but was defeated by Conkling. He was the Democratic candidate for governor in 1872, but was defeated by General John Adams Dix. During this time period, he, along with Roscoe Conkling and Horatio Seymour, served as the heads of NY state politics, known as the "Utica trio". Oneida is a city located in Madison County, New York. ... Seal of the Congress. ... Roscoe Conkling (October 30, 1829–April 18, 1888) was a United States politician from New York. ... The Democratic Party is one of two major political parties in the United States. ... John Adams Dix (July 24, 1798–April 21, 1879) was an American politician. ... Horatio Seymour (May 31, 1810 - February 12, 1886) was an American politician. ...

Kernan was elected U.S. senator from New York in January 1875, the first Catholic senator from the state, and its first Democratic senator in 24 years. He served from 4 March 1875, to 4 March 1881. In July 1876, at the St. Louis convention, Senator Kernan nominated Samuel J. Tilden for the presidency. Seal of the Senate The United States Senate is one of the two houses of the Congress of the United States, the other being the House of Representatives. ... March 4 is the 63rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (64th in leap years). ... 1875 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... March 4 is the 63rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (64th in leap years). ... 1881 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... Samuel Jones Tilden (February 9, 1814 - August 4, 1886) was the Democratic candidate for the US presidency in the disputed election of 1876, the most controversial American election of the 19th century. ...

He died at Utica, New York, 7 September 1892. September 7 is the 250th day of the year (251st in leap years). ... 1892 was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ...

He numbered among his friends Abraham Lincoln, Horatio Seymour, Samuel J. Tilden, Thomas F. Bayard, and Grover Cleveland. Both as a member of the New York Assembly and as a U.S. Congressman, he was a "War Democrat". Abraham Lincoln (February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865), sometimes called Abe Lincoln and nicknamed Honest Abe, the Rail Splitter, and the Great Emancipator, was the 16th President of the United States (1861–1865), and the first president from the Republican Party. ... Horatio Seymour (May 31, 1810 - February 12, 1886) was an American politician. ... Samuel Jones Tilden (February 9, 1814 - August 4, 1886) was the Democratic candidate for the US presidency in the disputed election of 1876, the most controversial American election of the 19th century. ... Categories: People stubs | 1828 births | 1898 deaths | U.S. Secretaries of State | United States Senators ... Stephen Grover Cleveland (March 18, 1837 – June 24, 1908) was the 22nd (1885–1889) and 24th (1893–1897) President of the United States, and the only President to serve two non-consecutive terms. ... War Democrats were those who broke with the majority of the Democratic Party and supported the military policies of President Abraham Lincoln during the American Civil War of 1861-1865. ...

Reuben Eaton Fenton (4 July 1819–15 August 1885) was an American politician from New York. ... The state of New York ratified the Constitution on July 26, 1788, thereby becoming the eleventh state. ... Thomas C. Platt Thomas C. Platt was a three term U.S. Senator from New York in the years 1881 and 1897-1909. ...