Charles Humphrey

Summary

Charles Humphrey (February 14, 1792 – April 17, 1850) was an American lawyer and politician from New York. He served as a U.S. Representative and as Speaker of the New York State Assembly.

Charles Humphrey
Speaker of the New York State Assembly
In office
January 6, 1835 – December 31, 1836
GovernorWilliam L. Marcy
Preceded byWilliam Baker
Succeeded byEdward Livingston
Member of the New York State Assembly from Tompkins County
In office
January 1, 1842 – December 31, 1842
Preceded byLevi Hubbell
Succeeded bySylvanus Larned
In office
January 1, 1834 – December 31, 1836
Preceded byDaniel B. Swartwood
Succeeded byBenjamin Jennings
Member of the
U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 25th district
In office
March 4, 1825 – March 3, 1827
Preceded bySamuel Lawrence
Succeeded byDavid Woodcock
Personal details
BornFebruary 14, 1792
New Windsor, New York, U.S.
DiedApril 17, 1850(1850-04-17) (aged 58)
Albany, New York, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic (1835–1850)
National Republican (before 1835)
Spouse
Ann Eliza Belknap
(m. 1816)
Children7
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army
Years of service1813–1815
RankCaptain
Unit41st Infantry Regiment
Battles/warsWar of 1812

Life edit

He was born in Little Britain, Orange County, New York, but moved to Newburgh, New York, at an early age and attended the Newburgh Academy. Then he studied law. He entered the United States Army at the beginning of the War of 1812 as First Sergeant of Newburgh Company Number Five. He was commissioned a captain in the Forty-first Regiment, United States Infantry, on August 15, 1813. After the war he resumed the study of law, and was admitted to the bar in Newburgh, New York on January 11, 1816. He moved to Ithaca, New York in 1818, and engaged in the practice of law.

Humphrey was elected as an Adams candidate to the Nineteenth Congress, and served from March 4, 1825 to March 3, 1827.

He served as president of the village of Ithaca in 1828 and 1829. He was elected Surrogate of Tompkins County, New York, and served from March 4, 1831, to January 8, 1834.

He was a member from Tompkins County of the New York State Assembly from 1834 to 1836, when he was active in studying prison reform as well as education, and in 1842, and was Speaker in 1835 and 1836.

He was appointed clerk of the New York Supreme Court in 1843 and held that position until 1847.

Humphrey married Ann Eliza Belknap (1797–1861) in Newburgh, New York in 1816. The couple had seven children, three of whom survived to adulthood: William Ross Humphrey (1820–1901), Charles D. Humphrey (1832–1870), and Sarah B. Humphrey Judd (1835–1904).[1]

He died in Albany, Albany County, New York, and was buried at the City Cemetery in Ithaca, N.Y.

Charles Humphrey is the namesake of Humphrey, New York.[2]

References edit

  1. ^ "Finding Aid to the Charles Humphrey Papers, 1810–1849". New York State Library. Retrieved 24 September 2014.
  2. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 163.

Sources edit

  • [1] Political Graveyard
  • [2] Google Books = John Stilwell Jenkins: History of Political Parties in the State of New-York (Alden & Markham, Auburn NY, 1846)

Selkreg, John H, Landmarks of Tompkins County, New York. Syracuse: D. Mason & Company, 1894.

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 25th congressional district

1825–1827
Succeeded by