Silas Wright
Encyclopedia
Silas Wright, Jr. was an American
Democratic politician. Wright was born in Amherst, Massachusetts
and moved with his father to Weybridge, Vermont
in 1796. He graduated from Middlebury College
in 1815 and moved to Sandy Hill, New York, the next year, where he studied law, being admitted to the bar
in 1819. Wright commenced practice in Canton, New York
. He served as surrogate of St. Lawrence County
1821-1824 and then as a member of the New York State senate from 1824 to 1827. Wright was appointed brigadier general of the state militia in 1827.
In 1826, he was elected to the Twentieth Congress and served from March 4, 1827, to February 16, 1829, when he resigned. He successfully contested the election of George Fisher
to the Twenty-first Congress, but declined to qualify. Wright served as Comptroller of the State of New York
from 1829 to 1833, in which post he became a prominent follower of Martin Van Buren
and a member of the Albany Regency
that ran the state for the Democratic Party in this period. Wright was elected to the United States Senate
in 1833 as a Democrat
to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of William L. Marcy
. He was reelected in 1837 and served from January 4, 1833, to November 26, 1844. In the Senate, he served as Chairman of the Finance Committee from 1836 to 1841.
Wright was offered the Democratic vice presidential nomination in 1844, as a sop to followers of Van Buren, who had been disappointed in his hopes for renomination, but declined instead running for the position of Governor of New York. He served as Governor from 1845 to 1846, and was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection, being defeated by the Whig candidate John Young.
Wright died soon after, aged 52, in Canton, on August 27, 1847 and is interred in Old Canton Cemetery.
The people of Weybridge, Vermont
erected a monument to their local son and it stands today in the center of town along Route 23. The monument is the basis for the name of the local Monument Farms Dairy.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Democratic politician. Wright was born in Amherst, Massachusetts
Amherst, Massachusetts
Amherst is a town in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States in the Connecticut River valley. As of the 2010 census, the population was 37,819, making it the largest community in Hampshire County . The town is home to Amherst College, Hampshire College, and the University of Massachusetts...
and moved with his father to Weybridge, Vermont
Weybridge, Vermont
Weybridge is a town in Addison County, Vermont, United States. The population was 824 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 17.6 square miles , of which 17.0 square miles is land and 0.6 square mile is...
in 1796. He graduated from Middlebury College
Middlebury College
Middlebury College is a private liberal arts college located in Middlebury, Vermont, USA. Founded in 1800, it is one of the oldest liberal arts colleges in the United States. Drawing 2,400 undergraduates from all 50 United States and over 70 countries, Middlebury offers 44 majors in the arts,...
in 1815 and moved to Sandy Hill, New York, the next year, where he studied law, being admitted to the bar
Bar association
A bar association is a professional body of lawyers. Some bar associations are responsible for the regulation of the legal profession in their jurisdiction; others are professional organizations dedicated to serving their members; in many cases, they are both...
in 1819. Wright commenced practice in Canton, New York
Canton (village), New York
Canton is a village in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. The village is centrally located in both the town of Canton and the county of St. Lawrence. The population was 5,882 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of St. Lawrence County...
. He served as surrogate of St. Lawrence County
St. Lawrence County, New York
St. Lawrence County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 111,944. The county seat is Canton. The county is named for the Saint Lawrence River, which in turn was named for the Catholic saint on whose Feast day the river was discovered by...
1821-1824 and then as a member of the New York State senate from 1824 to 1827. Wright was appointed brigadier general of the state militia in 1827.
In 1826, he was elected to the Twentieth Congress and served from March 4, 1827, to February 16, 1829, when he resigned. He successfully contested the election of George Fisher
George Fisher (New York)
George Fisher was a U.S. Representative from New York.Born in Franklin, Massachusetts, Fisher attended the common schools and Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.He studied law....
to the Twenty-first Congress, but declined to qualify. Wright served as Comptroller of the State of 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...
from 1829 to 1833, in which post he became a prominent follower of 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 a member 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...
that ran the state for the Democratic Party in this period. Wright was elected to 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 1833 as a Democrat
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...
to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of William L. Marcy
William L. Marcy
William Learned Marcy was an American statesman, who served as U.S. Senator and the 11th Governor of New York, and as the U.S. Secretary of War and U.S. Secretary of State.-Early life:...
. He was reelected in 1837 and served from January 4, 1833, to November 26, 1844. In the Senate, he served as Chairman of the Finance Committee from 1836 to 1841.
Wright was offered the Democratic vice presidential nomination in 1844, as a sop to followers of Van Buren, who had been disappointed in his hopes for renomination, but declined instead running for the position of Governor of New York. He served as Governor from 1845 to 1846, and was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection, being defeated by the Whig candidate John Young.
Wright died soon after, aged 52, in Canton, on August 27, 1847 and is interred in Old Canton Cemetery.
The people of Weybridge, Vermont
Weybridge, Vermont
Weybridge is a town in Addison County, Vermont, United States. The population was 824 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 17.6 square miles , of which 17.0 square miles is land and 0.6 square mile is...
erected a monument to their local son and it stands today in the center of town along Route 23. The monument is the basis for the name of the local Monument Farms Dairy.
Publications
- Lives by Gilet, (Albany, 1874); HammondJabez Delno HammondJabez Delano Hammond was an American physician, lawyer, author and politician.-Life:...
, (Syracuse, 1848); Jenkins, (Auburn, 1847)