James Tallmadge

James Tallmadge (around 1850)

James Tallmadge, Jr. (born January 28, 1778 in Stanfordville , Dutchess County , New York , † September 29, 1853 in New York City ) was an American attorney and politician who served in the US House of Representatives . His father, Colonel James Tallmadge (1744-1821), led a company of volunteers in the capture of General John Burgoyne .

Career

Tallmadge graduated in 1798 at Brown University in Providence ( Rhode Iceland ). He then worked from 1798 to 1800 as Secretary to Governor George Clinton . Then he studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1802. He practiced in Poughkeepsie and New York City. Tallmadge was also active militarily. He served in the British-American War (also War of 1812 called) and commanded a company there vigilante ( Engl. Home guard ) in the defense of New York.

He then became politically active by being elected as a Democratic Republican to the 15th US Congress to fill a vacancy that arose from the death of MP Henry B. Lee on February 18, 1817. He served from June 6, 1817 to March 3, 1819, during which time he defended General Andrew Jackson's course in the Seminole War and introduced a bill that would allow the people of Missouri to draft a constitution and establish a state government .

“And provided that the further introduction of slavery or involuntary serfdom is forbidden, except for the punishment of crimes of which the party in question is said to have been completely convicted; and that all children born after the state's admission into the Union, within said state, should be free when they reach the age of 25. "

In support of this change in the law, he gave a powerful speech on February 16, 1819, in which he spoke out against the expansion of slavery. This was widely circulated and translated into German.

He was a delegate to the New York Constituent Assemblies in 1821 and 1846 . He was also a member of the New York State Assembly in 1824 . The following year, 1825, he became lieutenant governor of New York, a post he held until 1826.

In 1836 he visited Russia and helped introduce some American machine inventions, especially cotton spinning machines.

He was also President of New York University from 1830 to 1846 , which in 1838 gave him an LL.D. ( Doctor in Laws ). At roughly the same time, from 1831 to 1850, he was the President of the American Institute , of which he was a founder.

He was buried in the New York Marble Cemetery .

family

His only daughter was one of the most beautiful women in the country and on her return from Russia, to which she had accompanied her father, she married Philip S. Van Rensselaer, the third son of Stephen Van Rensselaer . Her only surviving son, James Tallmadge Van Rensselaer, was a well-known attorney in New York City.

Web links

• James Tallmadge in the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress (English)
• James Tallmadge at The Political Graveyard
• Biography on Infoplease

Individual evidence

1. ^ Annals of Congress , House of Representatives, 15th Congress, 2nd Session, 1170
2. ^ Annals of Congress , House of Representatives, 15th Congress, 2nd Session, 1203-1214