Leonard Wilcox

Leonard Wilcox (January 29, 1799 – June 18, 1850) was an American lawyer, judge and politician. He served as a United States Senator from New Hampshire, as judge of the New Hampshire Superior Court, and as a member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives during the 1800s.

Leonard Wilcox
United States Senator from New Hampshire
In office March 1, 1842 – March 3, 1843
Preceded by	Franklin Pierce
Succeeded by	Charles G. Atherton
Judge of the New Hampshire Superior Court
In office 1838–1840
Member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives
In office 1828–1834
Personal details
Born	January 29, 1799 Hanover, New Hampshire
Died	June 18, 1850 (aged 51) Orford, New Hampshire
Resting place	West Congregational Churchyard Orford, New Hampshire.
Nationality	American
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Almira Morey Wilcox Mary Mann Wilcox
Relations	Jeduthun Wilcox Samuel Morey
Children	Samuel M. Wilcox Martha Wilcox Woodward
Profession	Lawyer Jedge Politician

Early life

Born in Hanover, New Hampshire, Wilcox was the son of Jeduthun Wilcox and Sarah (Fisk) Wilcox.[1] His father was a United States Representative from New Hampshire during the 13th and 14th United States Congresses.[2]

He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1817 and was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society.[3] After graduation, he studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1820. He began the practice of law in Orford in Grafton County.[4][5]

Career

He served as a member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives from 1828-1834,[6] was judge of the New Hampshire Superior Court from 1838-1840, and as bank commissioner from 1838-1842.[7] Appointed by Governor Page as a Democrat to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Franklin Pierce, Wilcox was subsequently elected and served from March 1, 1842 to March 3, 1843.[8] After leaving the Senate, he resumed the practice of law.

He served as judge of the Court of Common Pleas from 1847-1848,[9] and was again appointed judge of the superior court in 1848, serving until his death.[10]

Death

Wilcox died in Orford, Grafton County, New Hampshire, on June 18, 1850 (age 51 years, 140 days). He is interred at West Congregational Churchyard in Orford, New Hampshire.[11]

Personal life

On September 12, 1819, he married Almira Morey, daughter of inventor Samuel Morey.[12] Following Almira's death, Wilcox married Mary Mann on October 10, 1833. He had children from both marriages.[13]

References

1. Bell, Charles Henry (1893). The bench and bar of New Hampshire: including biographical notices of deceased judges of the highest court, and lawyers of the province and state, and a list of names of those now living. Houghton, Mifflin and company. p. 94.
2. Bar Association of the State of New Hampshire (1903). Proceedings of the Bar Association of the State of New Hampshire at Its Annual Meeting. Bar Association of the State of New Hampshire. p. 192.
3. Phi Beta Kappa, and New Hampshire Alpha (Dartmouth College) (1844). Catalogue of the Fraternity of [Phi Beta Kappa], Alpha of New Hampshire, Dartmouth College, Hanover. Phi Beta Kappa. New Hampshire Alpha (Dartmouth College). p. 17.
4. "Leonard Wilcox". 2014 Debate.org. Archived from the original on 7 January 2014. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
5. Claremont Manufacturing Company (1826). The New Hampshire Register and Farmer's Almanac. Claremont Manufacturing Company. p. 55.
6. Bar Association of the State of New Hampshire (1903). Proceedings of the Bar Association of the State of New Hampshire at Its Annual Meeting. Bar Association of the State of New Hampshire. p. 192.
7. Leonard Wilcox. Gazetteer of Grafton County, N, Volumes 1709-1886. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
8. Bell, Charles Henry (1893). The bench and bar of New Hampshire: including biographical notices of deceased judges of the highest court, and lawyers of the province and state, and a list of names of those now living. Houghton, Mifflin and company. p. 93.
9. White, J. T. (1909). The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography: Being the History of the United States as Illustrated in the Lives of the Founders, Builders, and Defenders of the Republic, and of the Men and Women who are Doing the Work and Moulding the Thought of the Present Time, Volume 11 (. J. T. White. p. 159.
10. Capace, Nancy (2001). Encyclopedia of New Hampshire. North American Book Dist LLC. p. 437.
11. Spencer, Thomas E. (1998). Where They're Buried: A Directory Containing More Than Twenty Thousand Names of Notable Persons Buried in American Cemeteries, with Listings of Many Prominent People who Were Cremated. Genealogical Publishing Com. p. 134.
12. Chapman, George Thomas (1867). Sketches of the Alumni of Dartmouth College: From the First Graduation in 1771 to the Present Time, with a Brief History of the Institution. Riverside Press. p. 191.
13. Bell, Charles Henry (1893). The bench and bar of New Hampshire: including biographical notices of deceased judges of the highest court, and lawyers of the province and state, and a list of names of those now living. Houghton, Mifflin and company. p. 94.

External links

• Leonard Wilcox at Find a Grave
• Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• The Papers of the Wilcox Family at Dartmouth College Library