Henry Seymour (Commissioner)
Encyclopedia
Henry Seymour was an American merchant, banker and politician from New York
.
, Litchfield County, Connecticut
, Seymour was the sixth child and fifth son of Major Moses Seymour (1742–1826), a politician who served as an officer in the American Revolution
, and his wife Molly (Marsh) Seymour. His brother, Horatio
became a successful businessman and banker, and went on to serve two terms in the United States Senate
.
In 1801 Henry Seymour left Connecticut with $300 from his father. Settling in Onondaga County, New York
, he used the money to establish a general store
in Pompey Hill
. Seymour prospered with the arrival of new immigrants from the New England region, and soon became a prominent member of the community. In January 1807 he married Mary Ledyard Forman (1785–1859), of Matawan, New Jersey
, daughter of General Johnathan Forman and Mary (Ledyard) Forman. They had six children, two boys and four girls. Their son Horatio Seymour
was twice Governor of New York and was the Democratic
nominee for U.S. President
in 1868
, while their daughter Julia Catherine married U.S. Senator Roscoe Conkling
.
as a quartermaster
under the command of General Jacob Brown
. In April 1815 he was elected to the New York State Senate
, where he served until 1818. While in the Senate, he became an integral part of the Albany Regency
organization then being created by Martin Van Buren
, and was regarded as his most effective lieutenant. In 1818 he was selected by the legislature to a year-long term on the Council of Appointment
, and afterward served for two terms in the New York State Assembly
.
In March 1819 Seymour was elected by the Bucktails
in the New York State Legislature to the Erie Canal Commission
. He replaced Ephraim Hart
, who had been a recess appointment made by Governor DeWitt Clinton
after the resignation of Joseph Ellicott
. Seymour's election was key to the Bucktails' capture of the canal commission, which was an integral part of the governor's power base. As a commissioner, Seymour addressed himself conscientiously to his job of ensuring the navigability of the canal, even moving his family in 1820 to Utica
in Oneida County, New York
in order to supervise the construction of the canal's middle section. He continued as a commissioner until 1831, after which he served as mayor of Utica in 1833 and as a member of a three-man commission tasked with arbitrating the boundary between New York and New Jersey
.
. Though his interests flourished during the boom years of the early 1830s, the New York fire of 1835
followed by the financial panic of 1837
brought an end to prosperous times and left Seymour in a state of acute depression. Returning to Utica in August 1837, he shot himself on August 26.
was his grandson, Congressman Origen S. Seymour
was his nephew, and Congressman Edward Woodruff Seymour
was his greatnephew.
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...
.
Life
Born in LitchfieldLitchfield, Connecticut
Litchfield is a town in and former county seat of Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States, and is known as an affluent summer resort. The population was 8,316 at the 2000 census. The boroughs of Bantam and Litchfield are located within the town...
, Litchfield County, Connecticut
Litchfield County, Connecticut
Litchfield County is a county located in the northwestern corner of the U.S. state of Connecticut. Litchfield County has the lowest population density of any county in Connecticut but is geographically the state's largest county. As of 2010 the population was 189,927...
, Seymour was the sixth child and fifth son of Major Moses Seymour (1742–1826), a politician who served as an officer in the American Revolution
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
, and his wife Molly (Marsh) Seymour. His brother, Horatio
Horatio Seymour (Vermont)
Horatio Seymour was a United States Senator from Vermont. He was the uncle of Origen S. Seymour and the great-uncle of Origen's son Edward W. Seymour....
became a successful businessman and banker, and went on to serve two terms in the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
.
In 1801 Henry Seymour left Connecticut with $300 from his father. Settling in Onondaga County, New York
Onondaga County, New York
Onondaga County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 467,026. The county seat is Syracuse.Onondaga County is part of the Syracuse, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area....
, he used the money to establish a general store
General store
A general store, general merchandise store, or village shop is a rural or small town store that carries a general line of merchandise. It carries a broad selection of merchandise, sometimes in a small space, where people from the town and surrounding rural areas come to purchase all their general...
in Pompey Hill
Pompey, New York
Pompey is a town in the southeast part of Onondaga County, New York, United States. The population was 6,159 at the 2000 census. The town was named after the Roman general and political leader Pompey by a late 18th-century clerk interested in the Classics in the new federal republic.- History :The...
. Seymour prospered with the arrival of new immigrants from the New England region, and soon became a prominent member of the community. In January 1807 he married Mary Ledyard Forman (1785–1859), of Matawan, New Jersey
Matawan, New Jersey
Matawan is a borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 8,810. The name "Matawan" comes from a Native American Lenape word....
, daughter of General Johnathan Forman and Mary (Ledyard) Forman. They had six children, two boys and four girls. Their son Horatio Seymour
Horatio Seymour
Horatio Seymour was an American politician. He was the 18th Governor of New York from 1853 to 1854 and from 1863 to 1864. He was the Democratic Party nominee for president of the United States in the presidential election of 1868, but lost the election to Republican and former Union General of...
was twice Governor of New York and was the 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...
nominee for U.S. President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
in 1868
United States presidential election, 1868
The United States presidential election of 1868 was the first presidential election to take place after the American Civil War, during the period referred to as Reconstruction...
, while their daughter Julia Catherine married U.S. Senator Roscoe Conkling
Roscoe Conkling
Roscoe Conkling was a politician from New York who served both as a member of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate. He was the leader of the Stalwart faction of the Republican Party and the last person to refuse a U.S. Supreme Court appointment after he had...
.
Political career
Seymour began his political career in 1809 when he was selected as town clerk. He served in the War of 1812War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
as a quartermaster
Quartermaster
Quartermaster refers to two different military occupations depending on if the assigned unit is land based or naval.In land armies, especially US units, it is a term referring to either an individual soldier or a unit who specializes in distributing supplies and provisions to troops. The senior...
under the command of General Jacob Brown
Jacob Brown
Jacob Jennings Brown was an American army officer in the War of 1812. His successes on the northern border during that war made him a hero. In 1821 he was appointed commanding general of the U.S. Army and held that post until his death.-Early life:Born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Jacob Jennings...
. In April 1815 he was elected to the New York State Senate
New York State Senate
The New York State Senate is one of two houses in the New York State Legislature and has members each elected to two-year terms. There are no limits on the number of terms one may serve...
, where he served until 1818. While in the Senate, he became an integral part of the Albany Regency
Albany Regency
The Albany Regency was a group of politicians who controlled the New York state government between 1822 and 1838. The group was among the first American political machines...
organization then being created by Martin Van Buren
Martin Van Buren
Martin Van Buren was the eighth President of the United States . Before his presidency, he was the eighth Vice President and the tenth Secretary of State, under Andrew Jackson ....
, and was regarded as his most effective lieutenant. In 1818 he was selected by the legislature to a year-long term on the Council of Appointment
Council of Appointment
The Council of Appointment was a body of the Government of New York that existed from 1777 to 1822.-History:...
, and afterward served for two terms in 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 March 1819 Seymour was elected by the Bucktails
Bucktails
The Bucktails may refer to one of two organizations that were particularly characterized and identified by the wearing of a bucktail in their headgear....
in the New York State Legislature to the Erie Canal Commission
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...
. He replaced Ephraim Hart
Ephraim Hart (NY politician)
This page is about the New York State Senator, for the New York City merchant see Ephraim HartEphraim Hart was an American politician from New York.-Life:He was the son of Thomas Hart This page is about the New York State Senator, for the New York City merchant see Ephraim HartEphraim Hart...
, who had been a recess appointment made by Governor DeWitt Clinton
DeWitt Clinton
DeWitt Clinton was an early American politician and naturalist who served as United States Senator and the sixth Governor of New York. In this last capacity he was largely responsible for the construction of the Erie Canal...
after the resignation of Joseph Ellicott
Joseph Ellicott
Joseph Ellicott was an American surveyor, city planner, land office agent, lawyer and politician of the Quaker faith.-Life:He was the son of Joseph Ellicott ....
. Seymour's election was key to the Bucktails' capture of the canal commission, which was an integral part of the governor's power base. As a commissioner, Seymour addressed himself conscientiously to his job of ensuring the navigability of the canal, even moving his family in 1820 to Utica
Utica, New York
Utica is a city in and the county seat of Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 62,235 at the 2010 census, an increase of 2.6% from the 2000 census....
in Oneida County, New York
Oneida County, New York
Oneida County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 234,878. The county seat is Utica. The name is in honor of the Oneida, an Iroquoian tribe that formerly occupied the region....
in order to supervise the construction of the canal's middle section. He continued as a commissioner until 1831, after which he served as mayor of Utica in 1833 and as a member of a three-man commission tasked with arbitrating the boundary between New York and 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...
.
Business career and death
Though mentioned as a possible candidate for governor, by the late 1820s Seymour focused his attention increasingly on his growing real estate and business interests. In 1835 he became the president of the Farmers' Loan and Trust Company and moved to New York CityNew 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...
. Though his interests flourished during the boom years of the early 1830s, the New York fire of 1835
Great Fire of New York
The Great New York Fire was a conflagration that destroyed the New York Stock Exchange and most of the buildings on the southeast tip of Manhattan around Wall Street on December 16–17, 1835....
followed by the financial panic of 1837
Panic of 1837
The Panic of 1837 was a financial crisis or market correction in the United States built on a speculative fever. The end of the Second Bank of the United States had produced a period of runaway inflation, but on May 10, 1837 in New York City, every bank began to accept payment only in specie ,...
brought an end to prosperous times and left Seymour in a state of acute depression. Returning to Utica in August 1837, he shot himself on August 26.
Family
Seymour had a number of successful family members in addition to his brother and children. State Engineer Horatio Seymour, Jr.Horatio Seymour, Jr.
Horatio Seymour, Jr. was an American civil engineer, surveyor and politician from New York.-Life:...
was his grandson, Congressman Origen S. Seymour
Origen S. Seymour
Origen Storrs Seymour was a U.S. Representative from Connecticut, father of Edward Woodruff Seymour and nephew of Horatio Seymour....
was his nephew, and Congressman Edward Woodruff Seymour
Edward Woodruff Seymour
Edward Woodruff Seymour was a U.S. Representative from Connecticut, son of Origen Storrs Seymour, great-nephew of Horatio Seymour....
was his greatnephew.
External links
- famousamericans.net/mosesseymour/ Bio of his father, himself and other family members
- The New York Civil List compiled by Franklin Benjamin Hough (pages 42, 122ff, 145, 196 and 303; Weed, Parsons and Co., 1858)
- http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/seymour.html Political Graveyard (giving wrong beginning years for tenures)
- http://www.conovergenealogy.com/conover-p/p867.htm#i291880 David Kipp Conover's genealogy page - "Mary Ledyard Forman"