American judge (1789–1874)
Alfred Conkling
In office August 6, 1852 – August 17, 1853Appointed by Millard Fillmore Preceded by Robert P. Letcher Succeeded by James Gadsden In office December 14, 1825 – August 25, 1852Appointed by John Quincy Adams Preceded by Roger Skinner Succeeded by Nathan K. Hall In office March 4, 1821 – March 3, 1823Preceded by John Fay Succeeded by Henry R. Storrs
Born Alfred Conkling
(1789-10-12 ) October 12, 1789Amagansett, New York , U.S.Died February 5, 1874(1874-02-05) (aged 84)Utica, New York , U.S. Resting place Forest Hill Cemetery Utica, New York, U.S.Political party Democratic-Republican Whig Spouse
Eliza Cockburn
(after )
Children 5, including Frederick , Roscoe Relatives Alfred Conkling Coxe Sr. (grandson)Education Union College Profession Attorney
Alfred Conkling (October 12, 1789 – February 5, 1874) was a United States representative from New York , a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York and United States Minister to Mexico .
Early life
Conkling was born on October 12, 1789, in Amagansett , New York .[ 1] [ 2] He was the son of Benjamin Conkling and Esther Hand.[ 3]
He graduated from Union College in 1810 and read law in 1812.[ 1]
Career
He was admitted to the bar and entered private practice in Johnstown , New York, from 1812 to 1813.[ 1] He continued private practice in Canajoharie , New York, from 1813 to 1819.[ 1] He was district attorney for Montgomery County , New York, from 1819 to 1821.[ 1]
Congressional service
Conkling was elected as a Democratic-Republican from New York's 14th congressional district to the United States House of Representatives of the 17th United States Congress , serving from March 4, 1821, to March 3, 1823.[ 4] Following his departure from Congress, he resumed private practice in Albany , New York, from 1823 to 1825.[ 1]
Federal judicial service
Conkling received a recess appointment from President John Quincy Adams on August 27, 1825, to a seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York vacated by Judge Roger Skinner .[ 1] He was nominated to the same position by President Adams on December 13, 1825.[ 1] He was confirmed by the United States Senate on December 14, 1825, and received his commission the same day.[ 1] While on the bench, he moved from Albany to Auburn , New York, in 1839.[ 4] There were several attempts to impeach him, but they failed. His service terminated on August 25, 1852, due to his resignation.[ 1]
Later career
Conkling was United States Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Mexico for the United States Department of State from August 6, 1852, to August 17, 1853.[ 1] He resumed private practice in Omaha , Nebraska , from 1853 to 1861.[ 1] He was a writer in Rochester and Geneseo , New York, from 1861 to 1872.[ 1] He was a writer in Utica , New York, from 1872 to 1874.[ 1]
Personal life
On May 5, 1812, Conkling was married to Elizabeth "Eliza" Cockburn (1791–1851). Together, they were the parents of five children, including:[ 5]
Margaret Cockburn Conkling (1814–1890), who became an accomplished author, with works such as The American Gentleman's Guide To Politeness and Fashion ,[ 6] Memoirs of the Mother and Wife of Washington , Isabel; or, Trials of the Heart and a translation of Florian 's History of the Moors of Spain .[ 7] [ 8]
Frederick Augustus Conkling (1816–1891), a United States representative from New York.[ 9]
Aurelian Conkling (1819–1861), who studied law and served as the Clerk of Court for the Northern District of New York in Buffalo until his death in May 1860.[citation needed ] He married Harriet Adriana Schermerhorn (1815–1886), a daughter of Commissioner John F. Schermerhorn .[ 10]
Eliza Conkling (1820–1868), who married Reverend Samuel Hanson Coxe, the son of abolitionist minister, author, and educator Samuel Hanson Cox .[citation needed ]
Roscoe Conkling (1829–1888), a United States Representative and United States Senator from New York.[ 3]
Conkling died on February 5, 1874, in Utica.[ 1] He was interred in Forest Hill Cemetery in Utica.[ 4]
Descendants and legacy
Conkling's grandson Alfred Conkling Coxe Sr. also served as United States District Judge in the Northern District of New York, and later a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit;[ 5] Coxe's own son (Conkling's great-grandson) Alfred Conkling Coxe Jr. was a Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York .[ 5]
A photograph of Judge Conkling hangs in the courtroom at the United States District Court in Utica, New York.[citation needed ]
See also
References
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Alfred Conkling at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges , a publication of the Federal Judicial Center .
^ Genealogies of the State of New York: A Record of the Achievements of Her People in the Making of a Commonwealth and the Founding of a Nation . Lewis Historical Publishing Company. 1915. Retrieved 30 March 2020 .
^ a b Conkling, Alfred Ronald (1889). The Life and Letters of Roscoe Conkling: Orator, Statesman, Advocate . C.L. Webster. p. 5 . Retrieved 30 March 2020 .
^ a b c United States Congress. "Alfred Conkling (id: C000679)" . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
^ a b c Cutter, William Richard (1913). Genealogical and Family History of Southern New York and the Hudson River Valley: A Record of the Achievements of Her People in the Making of a Commonwealth and the Building of a Nation ... Lewis Historical Publishing Company. p. 57. Retrieved 30 March 2020 .
^ Conkling, Margaret Cockburn (1860). The American Gentleman's Guide to Politeness and Fashion, Or, Familiar Letters to His Nephews: Containing Rules of Etiquette, Directions for the Formation of Character, Etc., Etc., Illustrated by Sketches Drawn from Life, of the Men and Manners of Our Times . Derby & Jackson. Retrieved 30 March 2020 .
^ Conkling, Margaret Cockburn (1850). Memoirs of the Mother and Wife of Washington . Derby, Miller & Company. Retrieved 30 March 2020 .
^ Brown, John Howard (1900). Lamb's Biographical Dictionary of the United States . James H. Lamb Company. Retrieved 30 March 2020 .
^ "Frederic Augustus Conkling" . The New York Times . 19 September 1891. Retrieved 23 January 2018 .
^ "NYC Marriage & Death Notices 1843-1856 | New York Society Library" . www.nysoclib.org . Retrieved 25 January 2017 .
Sources
International National People Other