John M. Coghlan
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 3rd district
In office March 4, 1871 - March 3, 1873
Preceded by	James A. Johnson
Succeeded by	John K. Luttrell
Member of the California State Assembly
In office 1865 - 1867
United States Attorney for the Northern District of California
In office 1876 - 1878
Personal details
Born	December 8, 1835 Louisville, Kentucky
Died	March 26, 1879 (aged 43) Oakland, California
Resting place	Mountain View Cemetery
Political party	Republican

John Maxwell Coghlan (December 8, 1835 – March 26, 1879) was a California Republican politician who represented California's 3rd congressional district in the 42nd United States Congress from 1871 to 1873.

Biography

Coghlan was born in Louisville, Kentucky and moved with his parents to Illinois in 1847, and again in 1850 to California during the California Gold Rush, where they settled in Suisun City.^[1]

Coghlan studied law and was admitted to the bar and practiced in Suisun City.

Political career

He was a member of the California State Assembly from 1865 to 1867, representing Napa and Lake counties.

Congress

He was elected as a Republican to the 42nd Congress (1871–1873), but lost his bid for reelection in 1872 to Democrat John K. Luttrell.

Later career and death

He was the United States Attorney for the Northern District of California from 1876 to 1878, and was appointed Chief Justice of the Territorial Utah Supreme Court, and confirmed by the United States Senate,^[2] but declined to serve.^[3] He practiced law in Oakland, California until his death in 1879.^[1] He is buried in Mountain View Cemetery.

Electoral results