Washington Hunt

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Washington Hunt

Washington Hunt (born August 5, 1811 in Windham , Greene County , New York , † February 2, 1867 in New York City ) was an American politician and governor of the state of New York from 1851 to 1853 . Between 1843 and 1849 he represented his state as a member of the US House of Representatives .

Early years and political advancement

In 1818, Washington Hunt came to Portage , Livingston County with his parents . There he finished his school education. After completing a law degree, he was admitted to the bar in 1834. He then began to work in his new profession in Lockport .

Hunt became a member of the Whig Party . In 1836 he ran unsuccessfully for a seat in Congress . From 1836 to 1841 he was an appeals judge in Niagara County . Between March 4, 1843 and March 3, 1849 he represented his state in the House of Representatives in Washington, DC for three legislative terms as a candidate for the Whigs . From 1847 he was chairman of the trade committee there. In 1848 he no longer ran for Congress. From 1849 to 1850 Hunt was the head of the State Comptroller of New York .

Governor of New York and another résumé

On November 5, 1850, Washington Hunt was elected the new governor of his state. He held this office between January 1, 1851 and January 1, 1853. During this time, the state's infrastructure was further improved by expanding the roads and waterways. One problem was the integration of the many immigrants of those years into society. In 1852 he was defeated in the gubernatorial elections to Horatio Seymour . After that he retired from politics for some time. In 1856 he was a delegate and intermittent chairman at the Whigs federal party convention. After the dissolution of his party in the late 1850s, he became a member of the Democratic Party . In 1864 he was a delegate to their Democratic National Convention . As early as 1860 he was being discussed as a possible candidate for the Northern Democrats for the vice presidency. Hunt refused.

Ex-Governor Hunt died in New York City in February 1867 and was buried in Lockport. He was married to Mary Hosmer Walbridge.

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