William Stanbery
Encyclopedia
William Stanbery was a U.S. Representative
from Ohio
from 1827 to 1833.
Born in Essex County, New Jersey
, Stanbery received an academic education and studied law in New York City
. He was admitted to the bar
and moved to Newark, Ohio
in 1809 where he started a law practice. He was elected to the Ohio Senate
in 1824 and 1825. He was elected a Jacksonian to the United States House of Representatives
in 1827 to fill the vacancy caused by the death of William Wilson
. He was reelected as a Jacksonian in 1828 and as an Anti-Jacksonian in 1830.
During his time in Congress, Stanbery was known to be controversial. In April 1832, Stanbery made accusations about Sam Houston
, who was visiting Washington, D.C.
at the time, on the floor of the House. He was attacking President
Andrew Jackson
through Houston and accused him of being in league with John Von Fossen and Robert Rose
. The three men bid on the supplying of rations to Indians
who were being forcibly removed because of Jackson's Indian Removal Act
of 1830. Stanbery, now carrying two pistols and a dirk
, refused to answer Houston's letters. Infuriated, Houston later confronted him on Pennsylvania Avenue
as he left Mrs. Queen's boardinghouse and beat Stanberry with a hickory cane. Stanbery did manage to draw one of his pistols, place it at Houston's chest and pull the trigger, but it misfired.
Congress ordered the arrest of Houston on April 17 who hired Francis Scott Key
as his attorney. He pleaded self-defense, but was found guilty in the high profile trial, however he was only lightly reprimanded thanks to high placed friends, among them James K. Polk
. Stanbery then filed charges against Houston in civil court. Judge William Cranch
found Houston liable and fined him $
500 which he never paid before leaving for Mexican Texas
.
On July 11, 1832, Stanbery was censured
by the House of Representatives for saying of House Speaker
Andrew Stevenson
that his eye might be "too frequently turned from the chair you occupy toward the White House." Stanbery was defeated for renomination in 1832. Afterwards, he resumed practicing law in Newark where he died on January 23, 1873. He was interred in Cedar Hill Cemetery.
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 Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
from 1827 to 1833.
Born in Essex County, New Jersey
Essex County, New Jersey
Essex County is a county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the United States 2010 Census, the population was 783,969, ranking it third in the state after Bergen County and Middlesex County; Essex County's population has declined from 786,147 as of the bureau's...
, Stanbery received an academic education and studied law in 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...
. He was admitted to the bar
Admission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
and moved to Newark, Ohio
Newark, Ohio
In addition, the remains of a road leading south from the Octagon have been documented and explored. It was first surveyed in the 19th century, when its walls were more apparent. Called the Great Hopewell Road, it may extend to the Hopewell complex at Chillicothe, Ohio...
in 1809 where he started a law practice. He was elected to the Ohio Senate
Ohio Senate
The Ohio State Senate is the upper house of the Ohio General Assembly, the legislative body for the U.S. state of Ohio. There are 33 State Senators. The state legislature meets in the state capital, Columbus. The President of the Senate presides over the body when in session, and is currently Tom...
in 1824 and 1825. He was elected a Jacksonian 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...
in 1827 to fill the vacancy caused by the death of William Wilson
William Wilson (Ohio politician)
William Wilson was a U.S. Representative from Ohio.Born in New Boston, New Hampshire, Wilson attended the public schools and was graduated from Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, in 1797. He studied law in Johnstown, New York, and was admitted to the bar.He moved to Ohio and settled in...
. He was reelected as a Jacksonian in 1828 and as an Anti-Jacksonian in 1830.
During his time in Congress, Stanbery was known to be controversial. In April 1832, Stanbery made accusations about Sam Houston
Sam Houston
Samuel Houston, known as Sam Houston , was a 19th-century American statesman, politician, and soldier. He was born in Timber Ridge in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, of Scots-Irish descent. Houston became a key figure in the history of Texas and was elected as the first and third President of...
, who was visiting Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
at the time, on the floor of the House. He was attacking 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....
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States . Based in frontier Tennessee, Jackson was a politician and army general who defeated the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend , and the British at the Battle of New Orleans...
through Houston and accused him of being in league with John Von Fossen and Robert Rose
Robert S. Rose
Robert Selden Rose was a U.S. Representative from New York.-Marriage and family:Rose married in Virginia...
. The three men bid on the supplying of rations to Indians
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
who were being forcibly removed because of Jackson's Indian Removal Act
Indian Removal Act
The Indian Removal Act was signed into law by President Andrew Jackson on May 28, 1830.The Removal Act was strongly supported in the South, where states were eager to gain access to lands inhabited by the Five Civilized Tribes. In particular, Georgia, the largest state at that time, was involved in...
of 1830. Stanbery, now carrying two pistols and a dirk
Dirk
A dirk is a short thrusting dagger, sometimes a cut-down sword blade mounted on a dagger hilt rather than a knife blade. It was historically used as a personal weapon for officers engaged in naval hand-to-hand combat during the Age of Sail.-Etymology:...
, refused to answer Houston's letters. Infuriated, Houston later confronted him on Pennsylvania Avenue
Pennsylvania Avenue
Pennsylvania Avenue is a street in Washington, D.C. that joins the White House and the United States Capitol. Called "America's Main Street", it is the location of official parades and processions, as well as protest marches...
as he left Mrs. Queen's boardinghouse and beat Stanberry with a hickory cane. Stanbery did manage to draw one of his pistols, place it at Houston's chest and pull the trigger, but it misfired.
Congress ordered the arrest of Houston on April 17 who hired Francis Scott Key
Francis Scott Key
Francis Scott Key was an American lawyer, author, and amateur poet, from Georgetown, who wrote the lyrics to the United States' national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner".-Life:...
as his attorney. He pleaded self-defense, but was found guilty in the high profile trial, however he was only lightly reprimanded thanks to high placed friends, among them James K. Polk
James K. Polk
James Knox Polk was the 11th President of the United States . Polk was born in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. He later lived in and represented Tennessee. A Democrat, Polk served as the 17th Speaker of the House of Representatives and the 12th Governor of Tennessee...
. Stanbery then filed charges against Houston in civil court. Judge William Cranch
William Cranch
William Cranch was an American judge and the second reporter of decisions of the Supreme Court of the United States.-Early life:Born in Weymouth, Massachusetts, he was a nephew of Abigail Adams...
found Houston liable and fined him $
Dollar
The dollar is the name of the official currency of many countries, including Australia, Belize, Canada, Ecuador, El Salvador, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan, and the United States.-Etymology:...
500 which he never paid before leaving for Mexican Texas
Mexican Texas
Mexican Texas is the name given by Texas history scholars to the period between 1821 and 1836, when Texas was an integral part of Mexico. The period began with Mexico's victory over Spain in its war of independence in 1821. For the first several years of its existence, Mexican Texas operated very...
.
On July 11, 1832, Stanbery was censured
Censure in the United States
In the United States, a motion of censure is a congressional procedure for reprimanding the President of the United States, a member of Congress, or a judge. Unlike impeachment, in the United States censure has no explicit basis in the federal constitution. It derives from the formal condemnation...
by the House of Representatives for saying of House Speaker
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
The Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, or Speaker of the House, is the presiding officer of the United States House of Representatives...
Andrew Stevenson
Andrew Stevenson
Andrew Stevenson was a Democratic politician in the United States. Educated at the College of William and Mary, he married three times. His second wife, Sarah Coles, was a cousin of Dolley Madison and sister of Edward Coles, a governor of Illinois...
that his eye might be "too frequently turned from the chair you occupy toward the White House." Stanbery was defeated for renomination in 1832. Afterwards, he resumed practicing law in Newark where he died on January 23, 1873. He was interred in Cedar Hill Cemetery.