Samuel Beardsley
Encyclopedia
Samuel Beardsley was an American lawyer and politician.
and served as a lieutenant in the War of 1812
, taking part in the defense of Sackets Harbor in 1813. He was admitted to the bar
in 1815 and commenced practice in Watertown, New York. He was a judge advocate of the New York State Militia. In 1816 he returned to Rome, N.Y., and continued the practice of law. He moved to Utica in 1823.
He was a member of the New York State Senate
in 1823. He was United States Attorney for the Northern District of New York
from 1823 to 1830. He was elected as a Jacksonian to the 22nd, 23rd and 24th United States Congress
es and served from March 4, 1831, to March 29, 1836, when he resigned. During the Twenty-fourth Congress he was chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary.
In 1836, Beardsley was elected by the New York State Legislature to the office of New York State Attorney General
after his predecessor Greene C. Bronson
became a justice of the New York Supreme Court
. He was elected as a Democrat to the Twenty-eighth United States Congress and served from March 4, 1843, to February 29, 1844, when he resigned to accept the appointment as associate justice of the New York Supreme Court
. He sat on the bench from 1844 to 1847, and was chief justice in the latter year. Afterwards he resumed the practice of law.
Beardsley died in Utica in 1860, and was buried at the Forest Hill Cemetery
there.
Life
He taught school, studied law in Rome, New YorkRome, New York
Rome is a city in Oneida County, New York, United States. It is located in north-central or "upstate" New York. The population was 44,797 at the 2010 census. It is in New York's 24th congressional district. In 1758, British forces began construction of Fort Stanwix at this strategic location, but...
and served as a lieutenant in the War of 1812
War 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...
, taking part in the defense of Sackets Harbor in 1813. He was admitted to the bar
Bar (law)
Bar in a legal context has three possible meanings: the division of a courtroom between its working and public areas; the process of qualifying to practice law; and the legal profession.-Courtroom division:...
in 1815 and commenced practice in Watertown, New York. He was a judge advocate of the New York State Militia. In 1816 he returned to Rome, N.Y., and continued the practice of law. He moved to Utica in 1823.
He was a member of 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...
in 1823. He was United States Attorney for the Northern District of New York
United States District Court for the Northern District of New York
The United States District Court for the Northern District of New York serves one of the 94 judicial districts in the United States and one of four in the state of New York. The U.S. Attorney for the district is Richard S. Hartunian...
from 1823 to 1830. He was elected as a Jacksonian to the 22nd, 23rd and 24th United States Congress
24th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:During this congress one House seat was added for each of the new states of Arkansas and Michigan.-Leadership:- Senate :* President: Martin Van Buren * President pro tempore: William R. King - House of Representatives :...
es and served from March 4, 1831, to March 29, 1836, when he resigned. During the Twenty-fourth Congress he was chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary.
In 1836, Beardsley was elected by the New York State Legislature to the office of New York State Attorney General
New York State Attorney General
The New York State Attorney General is the chief legal officer of the State of New York. The office has been in existence in some form since 1626, under the Dutch colonial government of New York.The current Attorney General is Eric Schneiderman...
after his predecessor Greene C. Bronson
Greene C. Bronson
Greene Carrier Bronson was an American lawyer and politician from New York.-Life:...
became 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...
. He was elected as a Democrat to the Twenty-eighth United States Congress and served from March 4, 1843, to February 29, 1844, when he resigned to accept the appointment as associate 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...
. He sat on the bench from 1844 to 1847, and was chief justice in the latter year. Afterwards he resumed the practice of law.
Beardsley died in Utica in 1860, and was buried at the Forest Hill Cemetery
Forest Hill Cemetery, Utica
-Notable burials:*Ezekiel Bacon , represented Massachusetts's 12th congressional district from 1807 to 1813.*William J. Bacon , represented New York's 23rd congressional district from 1877 to 1879....
there.