John Herschel GLENN, Jr., Congress, OH (1921)

GLENN John Herschel, Jr. , a Senator from Ohio; born in Cambridge, Guernsey County, Ohio, July 18, 1921; educated in the public schools of New Concord, Ohio; graduated, Muskingum College; served in the United States Marine Corps 1942-1965; test pilot; joined the United States space program in 1959, having been selected as one of the original seven Mercury astronauts; in February 1962, became the first American to orbit the Earth; unsuccessful candidate in 1964 to the United States Senate; elected as a Democrat to the United States Senate in November 1974, for the term commencing January 3, 1975; subsequently appointed by the Governor, December 24, 1974, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Howard M. Metzenbaum for the term ending January 3, 1975; reelected in 1980, 1986, and again in 1992 for the term ending January 3, 1999; not a candidate for reelection in 1998; chairman, Committee on Governmental Affairs (One Hundredth through One Hundred Third Congresses); returned to space as payload specialist aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery, October 29 to November 7, 1998; awarded the Congressional Gold Medal on August 7, 2009, for service as first American to orbit the earth; awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom on May 29, 2012; was a resident of Columbus, Ohio, until his death on December 8, 2016; interment in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va.

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present