He was born in Humphreysville, Connecticut (now known as
Seymour, Connecticut). He was the son of Raymond French and Olive Curtis French. French attended the common schools of Seymour and
General Russell’s Military School,
New Haven, Connecticut. He engaged in manufacturing and is credited with inventing the spiral steel car spring and the corrugated volute spring.
Early political career French was a member of the
Connecticut House of Representatives in 1860 and again in 1868.
Business career He was employed as the president and treasurer of the Fowler Nail Company from 1869 until his death and also the vice president of the H.A. Matthews Manufacturing Company. He was also the director the Union Horse Shoe Nail Company of
Chicago, Illinois and of the Second National Bank of New Haven, Connecticut. In addition, he was the director of the Colonial Trust Company of
Waterbury, Connecticut and of the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad Company.
Congress French was a member of the
Democratic National Committee and was elected as a Democrat to the
Fiftieth Congress (March 4, 1887 – March 3, 1889). He was not a candidate for renomination in 1888.
Later career and death After leaving Congress, he resumed his former manufacturing pursuits and corporate connections. He died in Seymour, Connecticut in 1903 and was buried in
Fair Haven Union Cemetery in
New Haven, Connecticut. ==References==