United States Postmaster General facts for kids

The United States Postmaster General is the person in charge of the United States Postal Service. Think of them as the CEO of all mail delivery in the U.S.! This important job is even older than the U.S. Constitution and the United States Declaration of Independence. The very first Postmaster General was Benjamin Franklin, who started the job on July 26, 1775.

For a long time, the Postmaster General was part of the President's Cabinet, like a top advisor. But in 1971, the United States Post Office Department changed into the United States Postal Service. This new organization became a special agency that works independently from the main government branches. Because of this change, the Postmaster General is no longer a member of the President's Cabinet and is not in line to become President if something happens to the President and Vice President.

Who Was the First Postmaster General?

The idea of a Postmaster General started even before the United States officially became a country. The Continental Congress appointed the first people to this role.

Early Postmasters General (1775-1789)

Here are the first few people who held this important job:

Samuel Osgood was the first Postmaster General after the U.S. Constitution was written.

Postmasters General Under the U.S. Constitution (1789-1971)

After the U.S. Constitution was created in 1789, the role of Postmaster General continued. For many years, this person was a key member of the President's team.

Postmasters General Who Served in the Cabinet

Many Postmasters General were part of the President's Cabinet, meaning they were top advisors to the President. This table shows some of them:

Postmasters General of the U.S. Postal Service (1971-Present)

Since the big change in 1971, the Postmaster General leads the independent U.S. Postal Service. They are no longer a Cabinet member.

See also

In Spanish: Director General del Servicio Postal de los Estados Unidos para niños