[1] Coghlan studied law and was admitted to the bar and practiced in Suisun City.

He was a member of the California State Assembly from 1865 to 1867, representing Napa and Lake counties.

He was elected as a Republican to the 42nd Congress (1871–1873), but lost his bid for reelection in 1872 to Democrat John K. Luttrell.

He was the United States Attorney for the Northern District of California from 1876 to 1878, and was appointed Chief Justice of the Territorial Utah Supreme Court, and confirmed by the United States Senate,[2] but declined to serve.

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