| Frank Hatton | |
| Office1: | 32nd United States Postmaster General |
| President1: | Chester A. Arthur |
| Term Start1: | October 14, 1884 |
| Term End1: | March 4, 1885 |
| Predecessor1: | Walter Q. Gresham |
| Successor1: | William Vilas |
| Office2: | 18th First Assistant United States Postmaster General |
| Term Start2: | October 22, 1881 |
| Term End2: | October 13, 1884 |
| Predecessor2: | James Noble Tyner |
| Successor2: | John Schuyler Crosby |
| Birth Date: | 28 April 1846 |
| Birth Place: | Cambridge, Ohio, U.S. |
| Death Place: | Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Resting Place: | Rock Creek Cemetery Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Party: | Republican |
| Children: | 1 |
| Profession: | Newspaper editor and publisher |
| Allegiance: | United States (Union) |
| Branch: | Union Army |
| Serviceyears: | 1862–1865 |
| Rank: | First lieutenant |
| Unit: | 98th Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment 184th Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment |
| Battles: | American Civil War |
Frank Hatton (April 28, 1846 - April 30, 1894) was an American politician and newspaperman. He was a Union Army veteran of the American Civil War, served as United States Postmaster General, and later edited The Washington Post.
Hatton was born in Cambridge, Ohio on April 28, 1846, a son of Richard Hatton and Sarah (Green) Hatton.[1] He was raised and educated in Cadiz, Ohio and apprenticed to his father, who was a printer and newspaper publisher.[1]
Though he was only 16 years old, in 1862 Hatton enlisted for the American Civil War as a private in Company C, 98th Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment.[2] His unit served primarily with the Army of the Cumberland, and Hatton took part in numerous engagements including the Battle of Atlanta.[2] In 1864, he was commissioned as a first lieutenant and he served with the 184th Ohio Infantry before being mustered out at the end of the war.[2]
After the war, Hatton was an original member of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States.[3] In addition, he was also one of the organizers of the Grand Army of the Republic in Ohio.[4]
After the war, Hatton worked in the newspaper business in Mount Pleasant, Iowa and later in Burlington, Iowa.[1] A Republican who was active as a member of the Stalwart faction,[5] he served as Burlington's Postmaster,[2] and held several party positions, including Chairman of the Iowa Republican Party's Central Committee.[6]
In 1881, Hatton was a candidate for several federal appointments at the start of the James A. Garfield administration.[7] Garfield died that summer and in October, Hatton was appointed First Assistant Postmaster General during Chester A. Arthur's presidency.[7]
In 1884 he was promoted to Postmaster General when incumbent Walter Q. Gresham became Secretary of the Treasury.[8]
Hatton worked unsuccessfully to nominate President Arthur for a full term at the 1884 Republican National Convention.[9] The nomination was won by James G. Blaine, who went on to lose the general election to Democrat Grover Cleveland.[10] Hatton left office at the end of Arthur's term and returned to the newspaper business.[11]
Hatton was part-owner and editor of The Washington Post until April 24, 1894, when he was stricken with a massive stroke while working at his desk.[12] Hatton experienced complete paralysis, and was transported to a hospital, where his condition continued to decline.[12]
He died on April 30, 1894, a week after his stroke and two days after his 48th birthday.[13] He was interred in Rock Creek Cemetery in Washington, D.C.[14]
In 1867, Hatton married Elizabeth J. Snyder (1844-1944) of Mount Pleasant Iowa.[1] They were the parents of a son, Richard Hatton (1872-1939).[1]
The town of Hatton, North Dakota was founded in 1882, and is named for Frank Hatton.[15]