David A. Starkweather

David Austin Starkweather
Starkweather in 1904 publication
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Ohio's 18th district
In office
March 4, 1839 – March 3, 1841
Preceded byMatthias Shepler
Succeeded byEzra Dean
In office
March 4, 1845 – March 3, 1847
Preceded byEzra Dean
Succeeded bySamuel Lahm
8th United States Ambassador to Chile
In office
November 22, 1854 – August 26, 1857
Appointed byFranklin Pierce
Preceded byBalie Peyton
Succeeded byJohn Bigler
Member of the Ohio House of Representatives
from the Stark County district
In office
December 2, 1833 – December 6, 1835
Serving with John Brown
Preceded byThomas Blackburn
John Grubb
Succeeded byThomas Blackburn
H. Stidger
Member of the Ohio Senate
from the Stark County district
In office
December 5, 1836 – December 2, 1838
Preceded byMatthias Shepler
Succeeded byJacob Hostetter Jr.
Personal details
Born(1802-01-21)January 21, 1802
Preston, Connecticut, U.S.
DiedJuly 12, 1876(1876-07-12) (aged 74)
Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Children4
Alma materWilliams College

David Austin Starkweather (January 21, 1802 – July 12, 1876) was an American lawyer and politician who was a U.S. Representative from Ohio and a U.S. diplomat. He served two non-consecutive terms in the U.S. House of Representatives in the mid-19th century and was United States Ambassador to Chile during the presidency of Franklin Pierce.

Early life and career

Starkweather was born in Preston, Connecticut on January 21, 1802. He graduated from Williams College and studied law with his brother in Cooperstown, New York.[1] He was admitted to the bar in 1825, establishing a practice in Mansfield, Ohio. He located in Canton, Ohio in 1828.[1]

Political career

He was a judge in one of the higher courts in Stark County, Ohio. He was a member of the Ohio House of Representatives from 1833 to 1835, and a member of the Ohio Senate from 1836 to 1838. He was a representative of the Democrats in Congress from Ohio from 1839 to 1841 and again from 1845 to 1847. In his first term, he was a member of the Committee on Roads and Canals, and a member of the Committee on Invalid Pensions the second term.[1] He was chosen a presidential elector in 1848 for Cass/Butler,[2] and served as U.S. envoy to Chile from 1854 to 1857. He lost election to Ohio's 18th congressional district in 1860.

Death

Starkweather died of paralysis at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Brinsmade, in Cleveland, Ohio, July 12, 1876. He had three daughters and one son.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d John Danner, ed. (1904). Old Landmarks of Canton and Stark County, Ohio. pp. 254–255. OCLC 79257924. Retrieved September 8, 2023 – via Archive.org.Open access icon
  2. ^ Taylor 1899 : 255