Alexander G. Cattell
Encyclopedia
Alexander Gilmore Cattell (February 12, 1816 April 8, 1894) was a United States Senator from New Jersey
. Born in Salem, New Jersey
, he received an academic education, and engaged in mercantile pursuits in Salem until 1846. He was elected to the New Jersey General Assembly
in 1840, and served as clerk from 1842-1844. He was a member of the State constitutional convention
in 1844 and moved to Philadelphia in 1846, where he engaged in business and banking. He was a member of the Philadelphia Common Council from 1848 to 1854, organized the Corn Exchange Bank
, and was its president from 1858 to 1871. He moved to Merchantville, New Jersey
in 1863 and was elected as a Republican
to the U.S. Senate to succeed John P. Stockton
, whose seat was declared vacant, and served from September 19, 1866, to March 4, 1871. He was not a candidate for reelection. While in the Senate, he was chairman of the Committee on the Library (Forty-first Congress).
Cattell was appointed by President Ulysses Grant to be a member of the first United States Civil Service Commission
and served two years, resigning to accept the position of United States financial agent in London
, serving in 1873 and 1874. He was a member of New Jersey Board of Tax Assessors from 1884 to 1891, and was its president from 1889 to 1891. In 1891, he was appointed a member of the State board of education
for a term of three years. Cattell died in Jamestown, New York
in 1894 and was interred in Colestown Cemetery in Cherry Hill Township
, near Merchantville, New Jersey
.
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. Born in Salem, New Jersey
Salem, New Jersey
Salem is a city in Salem County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the city population was 5,146. It is the county seat of Salem County, the most rural county in the state of New Jersey. The name Salem is related to the Hebrew word shalom, meaning "peace".The town and...
, he received an academic education, and engaged in mercantile pursuits in Salem until 1846. He was elected to the New Jersey General Assembly
New Jersey General Assembly
The New Jersey General Assembly is the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature.Since the election of 1967 , the Assembly has consisted of 80 members. Two members are elected from each of New Jersey's 40 legislative districts for a term of two years, each representing districts with average...
in 1840, and served as clerk from 1842-1844. He was a member of the State constitutional convention
Constitutional convention (political meeting)
A constitutional convention is now a gathering for the purpose of writing a new constitution or revising an existing constitution. A general constitutional convention is called to create the first constitution of a political unit or to entirely replace an existing constitution...
in 1844 and moved to Philadelphia in 1846, where he engaged in business and banking. He was a member of the Philadelphia Common Council from 1848 to 1854, organized the Corn Exchange Bank
Corn Exchange Bank
The Corn Exchange Bank was founded in 1853 in New York, but had branches in other states, including Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Nebraska. It was a retail bank that acquired many community banks. In 1929 it was renamed the Corn Exchange Bank and Trust Company. In 1954 it merged with Chemical Bank...
, and was its president from 1858 to 1871. He moved to Merchantville, New Jersey
Merchantville, New Jersey
Merchantville is a borough in Camden County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the borough population was 3,821....
in 1863 and was elected as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
to the U.S. Senate to succeed John P. Stockton
John P. Stockton
John Potter Stockton was a New Jersey politician who served in the United States Senate as a Democrat.Born in Princeton, New Jersey, Stockton was the son of Robert F. Stockton, grandson of Richard Stockton and the great-grandson of Richard Stockton , both prominent New Jersey politicians...
, whose seat was declared vacant, and served from September 19, 1866, to March 4, 1871. He was not a candidate for reelection. While in the Senate, he was chairman of the Committee on the Library (Forty-first Congress).
Cattell was appointed by President Ulysses Grant to be a member of the first United States Civil Service Commission
United States Civil Service Commission
The United States Civil Service Commission a three man commission was created by the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act, which was passed into law on January 16, 1883...
and served two years, resigning to accept the position of United States financial agent in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, serving in 1873 and 1874. He was a member of New Jersey Board of Tax Assessors from 1884 to 1891, and was its president from 1889 to 1891. In 1891, he was appointed a member of the State board of education
Board of education
A board of education or a school board or school committee is the title of the board of directors or board of trustees of a school, local school district or higher administrative level....
for a term of three years. Cattell died in Jamestown, New York
Jamestown, New York
Jamestown is a city in Chautauqua County, New York in the United States. The population was 31,146 at the 2010 census.The City of Jamestown is adjacent to Town of Ellicott and is at the southern tip of Chautauqua Lake...
in 1894 and was interred in Colestown Cemetery in Cherry Hill Township
Cherry Hill, New Jersey
Cherry Hill is a township in Camden County, New Jersey, in the United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township had a population of 71,045, representing an increase of 1,080 from the 69,965 residents enumerated during the 2000 Census...
, near Merchantville, New Jersey
Merchantville, New Jersey
Merchantville is a borough in Camden County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the borough population was 3,821....
.