Dudley S. Gregory
Encyclopedia
Dudley Sanford Gregory was the first Mayor of Jersey City, New Jersey, and was elected as a Whig
to represent in the United States House of Representatives
from 1847 to 1849.
and relocated to Albany, New York
as a child. He worked as a clerk in the office of the New York State Comptroller
for fourteen years, and became Chief Clerk of the Canal department
. Gregory was a member of the guard of honor to receive General Marquis de La Fayette
on his visit to the United States
in 1824. Moving to Jersey City from New York City
in 1834, he became involved in politics. He was elected the first mayor of newly incorporated Jersey City in 1838 and served to 1840. During those years he simultaneously served as a member of the Bergen County
Board of Chosen Freeholders
. (Jersey City was in Bergen County until 1840, when Hudson County was created.) He served three separate terms as mayor, being elected again in 1841 and serving to 1842. He served three terms on the Hudson County
Board of Chosen Freeholders, and was at one time a director of sixteen different railroads.
A member of the Whig Party, Gregory was elected in 1846 to the United States House of Representatives
, serving one term in office from March 4, 1847-March 3, 1849, and chose not to run for re-election. After ten years, Gregory was elected for a third term as mayor in 1858 and served to 1860. Gregory was involved in banking and railroads.
Upon returning to private business, Gregory was one of the incorporators of the "Mutual Benefit Life and Insurance Company of the County of Hudson" along with several partners including his last predecessor as mayor of Jersey City, Samuel Wescott
.
An original stockholder of the Adirondack Iron and Steel Works in Jersey City, Gregory bought the company in 1863. Adirondack was the oldest continually operating cast-steel
works in the United States.
Gregory married Ann Marie Lyon of Albany, New York
on September 10, 1822. They had 14 children; Caroline, Mary Louisa, Clara Bartlett, George Washington, Joseph, Dudley Sanford, Ann Eliza, Ann Marie, Walter, Charles Edward, Benjamin, Laura Drew, Archibald McIntyre and David Henderson.
Gregory died in his home in Jersey City on December 8, 1874. He was buried in Green-Wood Cemetery
in Brooklyn
with his wife who had died three years earlier on May 18, 1871. At the time of his death, Dudley's estate was estimated to be worth $1 million and his will provided for annual payments to be made to some of his children and grandchrildren, sister-in-law, and "Adam Thompson, a colorerd servant."
Whig Party (United States)
The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic...
to represent in the United States House of Representatives
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 1847 to 1849.
Biography
Gregory was born in Redding, ConnecticutRedding, Connecticut
Mark Twain, a resident of the town in his old age, contributed the first books for a public library which was eventually named after him.-Government:...
and relocated 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...
as a child. He worked as a clerk in the office of the New York State Comptroller
New York State Comptroller
The New York State Comptroller is a state cabinet officer of the U.S. state of New York. The duties of the comptroller include auditing government operations and operating the state's retirement system.-History:...
for fourteen years, and became Chief Clerk of the Canal department
Erie Canal Commission
The New York State Legislature appointed in 1810 a Commission to Explore a Route for a Canal to Lake Erie, and Report which became known as the Erie Canal Commission...
. Gregory was a member of the guard of honor to receive General Marquis de La Fayette
Gilbert du Motier, marquis de La Fayette
Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de La Fayette , often known as simply Lafayette, was a French aristocrat and military officer born in Chavaniac, in the province of Auvergne in south central France...
on his visit to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1824. Moving to Jersey City from New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1834, he became involved in politics. He was elected the first mayor of newly incorporated Jersey City in 1838 and served to 1840. During those years he simultaneously served as a member of the Bergen County
Bergen County, New Jersey
Bergen County is the most populous county of the state of New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 905,116. The county is part of the New York City Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Hackensack...
Board of Chosen Freeholders
Board of Chosen Freeholders
In New Jersey, the Boards of Chosen Freeholders are the county legislatures in each of that state's 21 counties.- Origin :New Jersey's system of naming county legislators "freeholders" is unique in the United States...
. (Jersey City was in Bergen County until 1840, when Hudson County was created.) He served three separate terms as mayor, being elected again in 1841 and serving to 1842. He served three terms on the Hudson County
Hudson County, New Jersey
Hudson County is the smallest county in New Jersey and one of the most densely populated in United States. It takes its name from the Hudson River, which creates part of its eastern border. Part of the New York metropolitan area, its county seat and largest city is Jersey City.- Municipalities...
Board of Chosen Freeholders, and was at one time a director of sixteen different railroads.
A member of the Whig Party, Gregory was elected in 1846 to the United States House of Representatives
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...
, serving one term in office from March 4, 1847-March 3, 1849, and chose not to run for re-election. After ten years, Gregory was elected for a third term as mayor in 1858 and served to 1860. Gregory was involved in banking and railroads.
Upon returning to private business, Gregory was one of the incorporators of the "Mutual Benefit Life and Insurance Company of the County of Hudson" along with several partners including his last predecessor as mayor of Jersey City, Samuel Wescott
Samuel Wescott
Samuel Wescott was the tenth Mayor of Jersey City. He succeeded David Stout Manners. Wescott served a single term from May 4, 1857 to May 2, 1858. He was succeeded by Dudley S. Gregory. Wescott served in the New Jersey State Senate from 1860 to 1862....
.
An original stockholder of the Adirondack Iron and Steel Works in Jersey City, Gregory bought the company in 1863. Adirondack was the oldest continually operating cast-steel
Crucible steel
Crucible steel describes a number of different techniques for making steel in a crucible. Its manufacture is essentially a refining process which is dependent on preexisting furnace products...
works in the United States.
Gregory married Ann Marie Lyon of 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...
on September 10, 1822. They had 14 children; Caroline, Mary Louisa, Clara Bartlett, George Washington, Joseph, Dudley Sanford, Ann Eliza, Ann Marie, Walter, Charles Edward, Benjamin, Laura Drew, Archibald McIntyre and David Henderson.
Gregory died in his home in Jersey City on December 8, 1874. He was buried in Green-Wood Cemetery
Green-Wood Cemetery
Green-Wood Cemetery was founded in 1838 as a rural cemetery in Brooklyn, Kings County , New York. It was granted National Historic Landmark status in 2006 by the U.S. Department of the Interior.-History:...
in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
with his wife who had died three years earlier on May 18, 1871. At the time of his death, Dudley's estate was estimated to be worth $1 million and his will provided for annual payments to be made to some of his children and grandchrildren, sister-in-law, and "Adam Thompson, a colorerd servant."
External links
- Dudley Sanford Gregory at The Political GraveyardThe Political GraveyardThe Political Graveyard is a website and database that catalogues information on more than 224,000 American political figures and political families, along with other information.-History:...