Christopher Morgan (politician)

Christopher Morgan (June 4, 1808 – April 3, 1877) was an American attorney and politician from Auburn, New York. He was most notable for his service as a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1839 to 1843.

Christopher Morgan
Morgan's eye patch resulted from the loss of his right eye in a hunting accident during his college years.
Member of U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 24th district
In office March 4, 1839 – March 3, 1843
Preceded by	William H. Noble
Succeeded by	Horace Wheaton
Secretary of State of New York
In office January 1, 1848 – December 31, 1851
Governor	John Young Hamilton Fish Washington Hunt
Preceded by	Nathaniel S. Benton
Succeeded by	Henry S. Randall
Mayor of Auburn, New York
In office 1860–1861
Preceded by	Lansing Briggs
Succeeded by	George Humphreys
Personal details
Born	June 4, 1808 Aurora, New York
Died	April 3, 1877 (aged 68) Auburn, New York
Resting place	Fort Hill Cemetery, Auburn, New York
Political party	Whig (before 1855) Republican (from 1855)
Spouse(s)	Mary Elizabeth Pitney (m. 1832-1877, his death)
Relations	Edwin Barber Morgan (brother) Noyes Barber (uncle)
Children	4
Education	Yale College
Profession	Attorney

Early life

Morgan was born in Aurora, New York on June 4, 1808, a son of Christopher Morgan (1777-1834) and Nancy (Barber) Morgan.[1][2] He was educated in Cayuga County and attended Yale College, from which he graduated in 1830.[2]

He began to study law with an attorney in Aurora, and completed his studies with Elijah Miller and William H. Seward in Auburn.[3] Morgan was then admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Aurora.[2]

Career

Morgan was elected as a Whig to represent the 24th District in the Twenty-sixth and Twenty-seventh Congresses (March 4, 1839 – March 3, 1843).[2] After redistricting following the 1840 U.S. Census, Morgan ran for reelection to the Twenty-eighth Congress in the 25th District in 1842, and was defeated by George O. Rathbun.[4] In the 24th District, Morgan was succeeded by Horace Wheaton.[4]

He moved to Auburn in 1843 and practiced law with Seward and Samuel Blatchford as Morgan, Blatchford & Seward from 1844-1847.[3] He was Secretary of State of New York from 1847–1851, which included the additional duty of Superintendent of the New York public schools.[2] After leaving office he resumed the practice of law in Auburn.[2]

He became a Republican at the party's organization in the mid-1850s. He served as mayor of Auburn from 1860 to 1861, and was a Trustee of the State lunatic asylum in Utica, New York.[2]

Death and burial

Morgan died in Auburn on April 3, 1877.[5] He was buried at Fort Hill Cemetery in Auburn.[6]

Family

In 1832, Morgan married Mary Elizabeth Pitney (1813-1893) of Auburn.[1] They were the parents of a son who did not live to adulthood and three daughters: Cornelia Louise (b. 1834), the wife of C. Eugene Barber; Mary Elizabeth (b. 1835), the wife of William C. Barber; Joseph Pitney (1839-1841); and Frances Adelaide Morgan (b. 1841), the wife of William Beasley Benson.[1]

Morgan was the brother of Edwin Barber Morgan and nephew of Noyes Barber.[1][7]

References

1. Morgan, Appleton (1902). A History of the Family of Morgan, From the Year 1089 to Present Times. Somerville, NJ: J. A. Morgan & Company. pp. 170, 173 – via Internet Archive.
2. "Obituary: Death of Hon. Christopher Morgan". The New York Times. New York, NY. April 4, 1877. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com.
3. Anderson, Scott W. (2015). Auburn, New York: The Entrepreneurs' Frontier. Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press. p. 59. ISBN 978-0-8156-5330-1 – via Google Books.
4. "Official Canvass of Votes for Representatives in Congress, 1842". Daily Mercantile Courier. Buffalo, NY. December 20, 1842. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
5. "Latest News Items: Death of Hon. Christopher Morgan". Brooklyn Union and Argus. Brooklyn, NY. April 3, 1877. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com.
6. Rosell, Lydia J. (2001). Auburn's Fort Hill Cemetery. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing. p. 71. ISBN 978-0-7385-0957-0 – via Google Books.
7. Hess, Stephen H. (1996). America's Political Dynasties. Milton Park, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom: Routledge Taylor & Francis. p. 657. ISBN 978-1-3515-3214-3 – via Google Books.

External links

• United States Congress. "Christopher Morgan (id: M000945)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Christopher Morgan at Find a Grave

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress website http://bioguide.congress.gov.