Gideon J. Tucker
Encyclopedia
Gideon John Tucker was an American lawyer, newspaper editor and politician. In 1866, as Surrogate of New York, he wrote in a decision of a will case: "No man's life, liberty or property are safe while the Legislature is in session."
in Lower Manhattan
as the son of Alderman John C. Tucker, a leader of the Locofocos
. In 1844, he became a lawyer's clerk and subsequently wrote for newspapers. In 1847, he was admitted to the bar. On March 15, 1848, he married Clara L. Livingston (b. 1828). In 1852, he became a tax clerk in the office of the New York State Comptroller
at Albany, New York
. In 1853, he bought an interest in the Albany Argus from Edwin Croswell
, but in 1855 sold his part and founded the New York Daily News
, but withdrew from the editorship in September 1857.
He was a delegate to the 1856 Democratic National Convention
at Cincinnati, Ohio
. In 1857, he was elected a Sachem of the Tammany Society
, and later the same year
was elected Secretary of State of New York
, at age 31 the youngest person ever to be elected to the office. In 1862, he was elected Surrogate
of New York County. He was a delegate to the 1864 Democratic National Convention
. In 1865, he was a member from New York's 18th District of the New York State Assembly
. Here he drafted the first Eight-Hour Work Bill, which was ultimately defeated, but carried through the law for the prevention of cruelty to animals. In November 1865, he was again elected Surrogate. At the end of this term, he resumed his law practice.
In 1875, he left Tammany Hall
, and was among the founders of the opposing Irving Hall faction of the Democratic Party.
In 1878, he ran on the National Greenback and Labor Party
ticket for associate judge of the New York Court of Appeals
, but was defeated. Afterwards he went to Arizona for his health and edited the Daily Democrat at Prescott
, then the capital of the Arizona Territory
. He returned in the 1880s to New York. In November 1887, he ran again for Surrogate, this time on the United Labor ticket, but was defeated by Democrat Rastus S. Ransom.
He died at his home at 162 West Eighty-Fourth Street in New York City.
Life
He was born on Laight Street, near Canal StreetCanal Street (Manhattan)
Canal Street is a major street in New York City, crossing lower Manhattan to join New Jersey in the west to Brooklyn in the east . It forms the main spine of Chinatown, and separates it from Little Italy...
in Lower Manhattan
Lower Manhattan
Lower Manhattan is the southernmost part of the island of Manhattan, the main island and center of business and government of the City of New York...
as the son of Alderman John C. Tucker, a leader of the Locofocos
Locofocos
The Locofocos were a radical faction of the Democratic Party that existed from 1835 until the mid-1840s. The faction was originally named the Equal Rights Party, and was created in New York City as a protest against that city’s regular Democratic organization . It contained a mixture of...
. In 1844, he became a lawyer's clerk and subsequently wrote for newspapers. In 1847, he was admitted to the bar. On March 15, 1848, he married Clara L. Livingston (b. 1828). In 1852, he became a tax 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:...
at 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...
. In 1853, he bought an interest in the Albany Argus from Edwin Croswell
Edwin Croswell
Edwin Croswell , was an American journalist and politician. Croswell’s father and uncle were both influential editors and journalists in the early 19th century...
, but in 1855 sold his part and founded the New York Daily News
New York Daily News
The Daily News of New York City is the fourth most widely circulated daily newspaper in the United States with a daily circulation of 605,677, as of November 1, 2011....
, but withdrew from the editorship in September 1857.
He was a delegate to the 1856 Democratic National Convention
1856 Democratic National Convention
The 1856 Democratic National Convention, held at Smith & Nixon's Hall in Cincinnati was the first national party nominating convention to be held outside the original thirteen states. Called to order at Noon on Monday June 2 by National Committee chair Robert McLane, Samuel Medary was made the...
at Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
. In 1857, he was elected a Sachem of the Tammany Society
Tammany Hall
Tammany Hall, also known as the Society of St. Tammany, the Sons of St. Tammany, or the Columbian Order, was a New York political organization founded in 1786 and incorporated on May 12, 1789 as the Tammany Society...
, and later the same year
New York state election, 1857
The 1857 New York state election was held on November 3, 1857, to elect the Secretary of State, the State Comptroller, the Attorney General, the State Treasurer, the State Engineer, a Judge of the New York Court of Appeals, a Canal Commissioner and an Inspector of State Prisons, as well as all...
was elected Secretary of State of New York
Secretary of State of New York
The Secretary of State of New York is a cabinet officer in the government of the U.S. state of New York.The current Secretary of State of New York is Cesar A...
, at age 31 the youngest person ever to be elected to the office. In 1862, he was elected Surrogate
New York Surrogate's Court
The Surrogate's Court handles all probate and estate proceedings in the state of New York. All wills are probated in this court and all estates of people who die without a will are handled in this court...
of New York County. He was a delegate to the 1864 Democratic National Convention
1864 Democratic National Convention
The 1864 Democratic National Convention was held at The Amphitheatre in Chicago, Illinois. The Convention nominated General George B. McClellan for the Presidency, and Representative George H. Pendleton for the Vice-Presidency. McClellan, age 37 at the time of the convention and Pendleton, age 39,...
. In 1865, he was a member from New York's 18th District 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...
. Here he drafted the first Eight-Hour Work Bill, which was ultimately defeated, but carried through the law for the prevention of cruelty to animals. In November 1865, he was again elected Surrogate. At the end of this term, he resumed his law practice.
In 1875, he left Tammany Hall
Tammany Hall
Tammany Hall, also known as the Society of St. Tammany, the Sons of St. Tammany, or the Columbian Order, was a New York political organization founded in 1786 and incorporated on May 12, 1789 as the Tammany Society...
, and was among the founders of the opposing Irving Hall faction of the Democratic Party.
In 1878, he ran on the National Greenback and Labor Party
United States Greenback Party
The Greenback Party was an American political party with an anti-monopoly ideology that was active between 1874 and 1884. Its name referred to paper money, or "greenbacks," that had been issued during the American Civil War and afterward...
ticket for associate judge 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...
, but was defeated. Afterwards he went to Arizona for his health and edited the Daily Democrat at Prescott
Prescott, Arizona
Prescott is a city in Yavapai County, Arizona, USA. It was designated "Arizona's Christmas City" by Arizona Governor Rose Mofford in the late 1980s....
, then the capital of the Arizona Territory
Arizona Territory
The Territory of Arizona was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from February 24, 1863 until February 14, 1912, when it was admitted to the Union as the 48th state....
. He returned in the 1880s to New York. In November 1887, he ran again for Surrogate, this time on the United Labor ticket, but was defeated by Democrat Rastus S. Ransom.
He died at his home at 162 West Eighty-Fourth Street in New York City.
Sources
- http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/tucker.html Political Graveyard
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9E06E3D9143EE73BBC4D51DFB1668383669FDE The Greenback convention with Short bio of Tucker, in NYT on July 25, 1878
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9E06E5DD1038EE3BBC4153DFBE668383669FDE His nomination by the Greenbacks, in NYT on August 9, 1878
- A LIST OF THE CANDIDATES ON THE VARIOUS TICKETS in NYT on November 7, 1887
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9C01EFD61E3DE433A25755C1A9659C94699ED7CF His golden wedding, in NYT on March 16, 1898
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9E02EFD61030E333A25755C2A9619C94689ED7CF His obit, in NYT on July 26, 1899
- http://books.google.com.br/books?id=eYkDAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA22 Biographical Sketches of the State Officers and Members of the Legislature in the State of New York in 1859 by Wm. D. Murphy (pages 12ff; C. Van Benthuysen, Albany NY, 1859)