Christopher Morgan (politician)
Christopher Morgan | |
|---|---|
 Morgan's eye patch resulted from the loss of his right eye in a hunting accident during his college years. | |
| Member of U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 24th district | |
| In office March 4, 1839 – March 3, 1843 | |
| Preceded by | William H. Noble |
| Succeeded by | Horace Wheaton |
| Secretary of State of New York | |
| In office January 1, 1848 – December 31, 1851 | |
| Governor | John Young Hamilton Fish Washington Hunt |
| Preceded by | Nathaniel S. Benton |
| Succeeded by | Henry S. Randall |
| Mayor of Auburn, New York | |
| In office 1860–1861 | |
| Preceded by | Lansing Briggs |
| Succeeded by | George Humphreys |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 4, 1808 Aurora, New York |
| Died | April 3, 1877 (aged 68) Auburn, New York |
| Resting place | Fort Hill Cemetery, Auburn, New York |
| Political party | Whig (before 1855) Republican (from 1855) |
| Spouse | Mary Elizabeth Pitney (m. 1832-1877, his death) |
| Relations | Edwin Barber Morgan (brother) Noyes Barber (uncle) |
| Children | 4 |
| Education | Yale College |
| Profession | Attorney |
Christopher Morgan (June 4, 1808 – April 3, 1877) was an American attorney and politician from Auburn, New York. He was most notable for his service as a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1839 to 1843.
Early life
[edit]Morgan was born in Aurora, New York on June 4, 1808, a son of Christopher Morgan (1777–1834) and Nancy (Barber) Morgan.[1][2] He was educated in Cayuga County and attended Yale College, from which he graduated in 1830.[2]
He began to study law with an attorney in Aurora, and completed his studies with Elijah Miller and William H. Seward in Auburn.[3] Morgan was then admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Aurora.[2]
Career
[edit]Morgan was elected as a Whig to represent the 24th District in the Twenty-sixth and Twenty-seventh Congresses (March 4, 1839 – March 3, 1843).[2] After redistricting following the 1840 U.S. Census, Morgan ran for reelection to the Twenty-eighth Congress in the 25th District in 1842, and was defeated by George O. Rathbun.[4] In the 24th District, Morgan was succeeded by Horace Wheaton.[4]
He moved to Auburn in 1843 and practiced law with Seward and Samuel Blatchford as Morgan, Blatchford & Seward from 1844 to 1847.[3] He was Secretary of State of New York from 1847 to 1851, which included the additional duty of Superintendent of the New York public schools.[2] After leaving office he resumed the practice of law in Auburn.[2]
He became a Republican at the party's organization in the mid-1850s. He served as mayor of Auburn from 1860 to 1861, and was a Trustee of the State lunatic asylum in Utica, New York.[2]
Death and burial
[edit]Morgan died in Auburn on April 3, 1877.[5] He was buried at Fort Hill Cemetery in Auburn.[6]
Family
[edit]In 1832, Morgan married Mary Elizabeth Pitney (1813–1893) of Auburn.[1] They were the parents of a son who did not live to adulthood and three daughters: Cornelia Louise (b. 1834), the wife of C. Eugene Barber; Mary Elizabeth (b. 1835), the wife of William C. Barber; Joseph Pitney (1839–1841); and Frances Adelaide Morgan (b. 1841), the wife of William Beasley Benson.[1]
Morgan was the brother of Edwin Barber Morgan and nephew of Noyes Barber.[1][7]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Morgan, Appleton (1902). A History of the Family of Morgan, From the Year 1089 to Present Times. Somerville, NJ: J. A. Morgan & Company. pp. 170, 173 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Obituary: Death of Hon. Christopher Morgan". The New York Times. New York, NY. April 4, 1877. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Anderson, Scott W. (2015). Auburn, New York: The Entrepreneurs' Frontier. Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press. p. 59. ISBN 978-0-8156-5330-1 – via Google Books.
- ^ a b "Official Canvass of Votes for Representatives in Congress, 1842". Daily Mercantile Courier. Buffalo, NY. December 20, 1842. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Latest News Items: Death of Hon. Christopher Morgan". Brooklyn Union and Argus. Brooklyn, NY. April 3, 1877. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Rosell, Lydia J. (2001). Auburn's Fort Hill Cemetery. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing. p. 71. ISBN 978-0-7385-0957-0 – via Google Books.
- ^ Hess, Stephen H. (1996). America's Political Dynasties. Milton Park, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom: Routledge Taylor & Francis. p. 657. ISBN 978-1-3515-3214-3 – via Google Books.
External links
[edit]- United States Congress. "Christopher Morgan (id: M000945)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- Christopher Morgan at Find a Grave
This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
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- 1808 births
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- American politicians with disabilities
- Secretaries of state of New York (state)
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