Harvey Butler Fergusson

Harvey Butler Fergusson (born September 9, 1848 in Pickensville , Pickens County , Alabama , † June 10, 1915 in Albuquerque , New Mexico ) was an American politician . Between 1897 and 1899 he represented the New Mexico Territory as a delegate in the US House of Representatives ; from 1912 to 1915 he was the first MP of the first electoral district of the state of New Mexico.

Early years

Harvey Fergusson attended public schools in his home in Alabama. He then studied at Washington and Lee University in Lexington and initially became a teacher. He then studied law at the same university until 1874. After qualifying as a lawyer, he started in 1875 in Wheeling ( West Virginia to work in his new job). In 1882 he moved to the New Mexico Territory, where he first settled in White Oaks and then from 1883 in Albuquerque. Here he bought shares in a silver mine. He also worked as a lawyer in his new home. Between 1893 and 1894 he was a federal attorney in the area.

Political career

Fergusson became a member of the Democratic Party . Between 1896 and 1904 he was a member of the Democratic National Committee . In 1896 Harvey Fergusson was elected a delegate in the US House of Representatives, where he replaced Thomas B. Catron on March 4, 1897 . After he was not re-elected in 1898, his seat fell to Pedro Perea on March 4, 1899 . In 1902, Fergusson ran again unsuccessfully to return to Congress .

After New Mexico became a regular state in the Union, Fergusson was elected as one of the first two congressmen alongside George Curry to the US House of Representatives. He performed this mandate between January 8, 1912 and March 3, 1915. In contrast to his time as a delegate, he now had full voting rights as a regular MP. In 1914 he was not re-elected. Harvey Fergusson died of suicide three months after leaving Congress because he did not seem to be able to cope with the fact.

family

Fergusson was married to the daughter of German emigrants Clara Maria Hüning. Their son Francis Fergusson was an important literary scholar and drama theorist.

Web links

• Harvey Butler Fergusson in the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress (English)

• Harvey Butler Fergusson in the database of Find a Grave (English)