Amasa J. Parker
Encyclopedia
Amasa Junius Parker was a U.S. Representative
from New York
and a justice of the New York Supreme Court
.
on 2 June 1807. He moved with his parents to Hudson, New York
, in 1816. He was taught by private tutors and graduated from Union College
, Schenectady, New York
, in 1825. He was the principal of Hudson (New York) Academy from 1823 to 1827. Later he studied law, was admitted to the bar
in 1828, and commenced practice in Delhi, New York
. He was a member of the New York State Assembly
in 1833 and 1834. He was elected a regent of the State University of New York
from 1835 to 1844.
to the 25th United States Congress
, serving from March 4, 1837, to March 3, 1839, as the representative from Delaware
and Broome
counties. Afterwards he resumed the practice of law. In 1844, he moved to Albany, New York
and was Judge of the Third Circuit
from 1844 to 1847. In 1847 he was elected a justice of the New York Supreme Court
for the third district, and in 1854 was one of the ex officio judges of the New York Court of Appeals
.
He was one of the founders of the Albany (New York) Law School
in 1851. He was twice defeated as a Democratic
candidate for Governor of New York
, in 1856 by Republican
John Alsop King
, and in 1858 by Republican
Edwin D. Morgan
. He was a delegate to the New York State Constitutional Convention of 1867.
He married Harriet Langdon Roberts, granddaughter of Woodbury Langdon
, one of New Hampshire
's representatives to the Continental Congress
. They had four children, among them General Amasa J. Parker, Jr.
of the National Guards of the State of New York, and Mary Parker who married Erastus Corning (1827–1897) and was the mother of Edwin Corning
.
He was buried at the Albany Rural Cemetery
.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and a justice of the New York Supreme Court
New York Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of the State of New York is the trial-level court of general jurisdiction in thestate court system of New York, United States. There is a supreme court in each of New York State's 62 counties, although some smaller counties share judges with neighboring counties...
.
Early life
Amasa Junius Parker was born in Sharon, ConnecticutSharon, Connecticut
Sharon is a town located in Litchfield County, Connecticut, in the northwest corner of the state. It is bounded on the north by Salisbury, on the east by the Housatonic River, on the south by Kent, and on the west by Dutchess County, New York...
on 2 June 1807. He moved with his parents to Hudson, New York
Hudson, New York
Hudson is a city located along the west border of Columbia County, New York, United States. The city is named after the adjacent Hudson River and ultimately after the explorer Henry Hudson.Hudson is the county seat of Columbia County...
, in 1816. He was taught by private tutors and graduated from Union College
Union College
Union College is a private, non-denominational liberal arts college located in Schenectady, New York, United States. Founded in 1795, it was the first institution of higher learning chartered by the New York State Board of Regents. In the 19th century, it became the "Mother of Fraternities", as...
, Schenectady, New York
Schenectady, New York
Schenectady is a city in Schenectady County, New York, United States, of which it is the county seat. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 66,135...
, in 1825. He was the principal of Hudson (New York) Academy from 1823 to 1827. Later he studied law, was admitted to the bar
Admission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
in 1828, and commenced practice in Delhi, New York
Delhi, New York
Delhi, New York may refer to:* Delhi , New York, county seat of Delaware County, New York, USA* Delhi , New York, in which the village of Delhi is located...
. He was a member of the New York State Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
in 1833 and 1834. He was elected a regent of the State University of New York
State University of New York
The State University of New York, abbreviated SUNY , is a system of public institutions of higher education in New York, United States. It is the largest comprehensive system of universities, colleges, and community colleges in the United States, with a total enrollment of 465,000 students, plus...
from 1835 to 1844.
Political career
Parker was elected as a DemocratDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
to the 25th United States Congress
25th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:-Leadership:- Senate :* President: Richard Mentor Johnson * President pro tempore: William R. King - House of Representatives :* Speaker: James K. Polk -Members:This list is arranged by chamber, then by state...
, serving from March 4, 1837, to March 3, 1839, as the representative from Delaware
Delaware County, New York
Delaware County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of 2010 the population was 47,980. The county seat is Delhi. It is named after the Delaware River, which was named in honor of Thomas West, 3rd Baron De La Warr, appointed governor of Virginia in 1609.-History:When counties...
and Broome
Broome County, New York
Broome County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 200,600. It was named in honor of John Broome, who was lieutenant governor in 1806 when Broome County was established. Its county seat is Binghamton, which is also its major city. The current...
counties. Afterwards he resumed the practice of law. In 1844, he moved to Albany, New York
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
and was Judge of the Third Circuit
New York State Circuit Courts
The New York State Circuit Courts were circuit courts created by the New York State Constitution of 1821, and abolished by the Constitution of 1846.-History:...
from 1844 to 1847. In 1847 he was elected a justice of the New York Supreme Court
New York Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of the State of New York is the trial-level court of general jurisdiction in thestate court system of New York, United States. There is a supreme court in each of New York State's 62 counties, although some smaller counties share judges with neighboring counties...
for the third district, and in 1854 was one of the ex officio judges of the New York Court of Appeals
New York Court of Appeals
The New York Court of Appeals is the highest court in the U.S. state of New York. The Court of Appeals consists of seven judges: the Chief Judge and six associate judges who are appointed by the Governor to 14-year terms...
.
He was one of the founders of the Albany (New York) Law School
Albany Law School
Albany Law School is an ABA accredited law school based in Albany, New York. It was founded in 1851 by Amos Dean , Amasa Parker, Ira Harris and others....
in 1851. He was twice defeated as a Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
candidate for Governor of New York
Governor of New York
The Governor of the State of New York is the chief executive of the State of New York. The governor is the head of the executive branch of New York's state government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military and naval forces. The officeholder is afforded the courtesy title of His/Her...
, in 1856 by 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...
John Alsop King
John Alsop King
John Alsop King was an American politician who served as governor of New York.He was born in the area now encompassed by New York City on 3 January 1788 and was educated at Harrow School in England...
, and in 1858 by 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...
Edwin D. Morgan
Edwin D. Morgan
Edwin Denison Morgan was the 21st Governor of New York from 1859 to 1862 and served in the United States Senate from 1863 to 1869. He was the first and longest-serving chairman of the Republican National Committee...
. He was a delegate to the New York State Constitutional Convention of 1867.
He married Harriet Langdon Roberts, granddaughter of Woodbury Langdon
Woodbury Langdon
Woodbury Langdon was a merchant, statesman and justice from Portsmouth, New Hampshire. He was the brother of John Langdon, a senator from New Hampshire.-Biography:...
, one of New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
's representatives to the Continental Congress
Continental Congress
The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates called together from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the American Revolution....
. They had four children, among them General Amasa J. Parker, Jr.
Amasa J. Parker, Jr.
Amasa Junius Parker was a member of the New York State Senate and a Major General of the National Guard of New York.-Life:...
of the National Guards of the State of New York, and Mary Parker who married Erastus Corning (1827–1897) and was the mother of Edwin Corning
Edwin Corning
Edwin Corning was an American businessman and politician from New York. He was Lieutenant Governor of New York from 1927 to 1928.-Life:...
.
He was buried at the Albany Rural Cemetery
Albany Rural Cemetery
The Albany Rural Cemetery was established October 7, 1844, in Menands, New York, just outside of the city of Albany, New York. It is renowned as one of the most beautiful, pastoral cemeteries in the United States, at over . Many historical American figures are buried there.-History:On April 2,...
.