Foran was born in Choconut Township, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania. He lived on his father's farm and learned the art of coopering.^[1] Foran attended the public schools and St. Joseph's College.

He taught school three years and also spent two years in Ireland.

He served as a private in the Fourth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry, from April 1864 to July 1865.^{[citation needed]}

After the war, he taught for a few months. He found work as a cooper at Meadville, Pennsylvania, and moved to Cleveland, Ohio, March 11, 1868. He was prominent in his trade and was president of the Coopers' International Union, and editor of the Coopers Journal from 1870 to 1874.^[1] He served as a member of the State constitutional convention of Ohio in 1873. He studied law. He was admitted to the bar in 1874 and commenced practice in Cleveland. He served as prosecuting attorney for the city of Cleveland 1875–1877.

Congress edit

Foran was elected as a Democrat to the Forty-eighth, Forty-ninth, and Fiftieth Congresses (March 4, 1883 – March 4, 1889). He was not a candidate for reelection.

He resumed the practice of law in Cleveland, Ohio. He served as judge of the court of common pleas from January 1911 until his death in Cleveland, Ohio, June 28, 1921.

He was interred in Lake View Cemetery.

On December 29, 1868, Foran married Kate Kavanaugh. They had daughters named Gertrude M. and Margaret O. After Kate died, Foran married Emma Kennedy, December 1893.^[1] He was member of the B.P.O.E., Grand Army of the Republic, and the Catholic Church.^[1]

• United States Congress. "Martin A. Foran (id: F000254)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

• Martin A. Foran at Find a Grave

  This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress