Christopher Morgan (politician)
American politician
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.
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 |
| Died | April 3, 1877 (aged 68) |
| Resting place | Fort Hill Cemetery, Auburn, New York |
| 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 |
Early life
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
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
Morgan died in Auburn on April 3, 1877.[5] He was buried at Fort Hill Cemetery in Auburn.[6]
Family
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]
