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Erastus Root




Erastus Root ( March 16 , 1773 Hebron, Connecticut - December 24 , 1846 New York City ) was an American lawyer and Politician from New York .


BIOGRAPHY


Early life and State Assembly

He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1793 and became a teacher. Then he studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1796. He started to practice law in Delhi, New York . He was a member of the New York State Assembly from 1798 to 1802, from 1818 to 1822, from 1826 to 1828, and in 1830, and was its Speaker in 1827 and 1828.


U.S. Representative

He was elected four times a United States Representative :
  • In 1802, he was elected as a Democratic-Republican in the 14th District to the 8th Congress, and served from March 4, 1803 to March 3, 1805. Afterwards he resumed his law practice.

  • In 1808, he was elected in the 12th District to the 11th Congress, and served from March 4, 1809 to March 3, 1811, and was chairman of the Committee On Claims .

  • In 1815, he contested successfully the election of John Adams in the 8th District to the 14th Congress, and took his seat on December 26, 1815, serving until March 3, 1817, and was chairman of the Committee On Expenditures In The War Department .

  • In 1830, he was elected as a Jacksonian in the 11th District to the 22nd Congress, and served from March 4, 1831 to March 3, 1833, and was chairman of the Committee On Agriculture .

  • In 1838, this time as a Whig , he ran again for the House but was defeated.



State Senate and Lieutenant Governor

He was a member of the 2006 . He was originally buried at the Old Cemetery, but later re-interred at Woodland Cemetery, both in Delhi, N.Y.


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