The 42nd United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1871, to March 4, 1873, during the third and fourth years of Ulysses S. Grant's presidency. The apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives was based on the 1860 United States census. Both chambers had a Republican majority. Major events June 10, 1871: U.S. Marines make naval attack on the Han River forts in Korea March 1, 1872: Yellowstone National Park was established as the world's first national park November 5, 1872: 1872 United States presidential election Major legislation April 20, 1871: Enforcement Act of 1871 March 1, 1872: Yellowstone National Park founded May 10, 1872: General Mining Act of 1872 May 23, 1872: Amnesty Act of 1872 June 1, 1872: Practice Conformity Act (precursor to the Rules Enabling Act), ch. 255, February 12, 1873: Coinage Act of 1873 March 3, 1873: Timber Culture Act March 3, 1873: Comstock Act March 3, 1873: Salary Grab Act (so called) Party summary The count below identifies party affiliations at the beginning of the first session of this Congress, and includes members from vacancies and newly admitted states, when they were first seated. Changes resulting from subsequent replacements are shown below in the "Changes in membership" section. Senate House of Representatives Leadership Senate President: Schuyler Colfax (R) President pro tempore: Henry B. Anthony (R) House of Representatives Speaker: James G. Blaine (R) Republican Conference Chairman: Austin Blair Members This list is arranged by chamber, then by state. Senators are listed in order of seniority, and representatives are listed by district. Skip to House of Representatives, below Senate Senators were elected by the state legislatures every two years, with one-third beginning new six-year terms with each Congress. Preceding the names in the list below are Senate class numbers, which indicate the cycle of their election. In this Congress, Class 1 meant their term began in the last Congress, requiring re-election in 1874; Class 2 meant their term began in this Congress, requiring re-election in 1876; and Class 3 meant their term ended in this Congress, requiring re-election in 1872. Alabama 2. George Goldthwaite (D) 3. George E. Spencer (R) Arkansas 2. Powell Clayton (R) 3. Benjamin F. Rice (R) California 1. Eugene Casserly (D)