Abijah Gilbert

Abijah Gilbert
United States Senator
from Florida
In office
March 4, 1869 – March 3, 1875
Preceded byAdonijah Welch
Succeeded byCharles W. Jones
Personal details
Born(1806-06-18)June 18, 1806
Gilbertsville, New York, U.S.
DiedNovember 23, 1881(1881-11-23) (aged 75)
Gilbertsville, New York, U.S.
Resting placeBrookside Cemetery in Gilbertsville
Political partyRepublican

Abijah Gilbert (June 18, 1806 – November 23, 1881) was an American politician who served one term as a United States Senator from Florida from 1869 to 1875.

Early life and career

Born in Gilbertsville, New York, Gilbert attended Gilbertsville Academy and entered Hamilton College (in Clinton, New York) in 1822 as a member of the class of 1826, but did not return the following year.[1]

He spent 1822 to 1850 engaged in mercantile pursuits in New York City before moving to St. Augustine, Florida in 1865.

Political career

An early advocate of abolitionism, Gilbert was a strong supporter of the Whig Party and, later on, the Republican Party.

U.S. Senate

He was elected to represent Florida in the United States Senate as a Republican, and served from 1869 to 1875 as part of the Reconstruction effort. During that period of time, he missed 40.4% of roll call votes.[2]

Later career and death

Gilbert retired from business and political life after his Senate term ended while continuing to live in St. Augustine. He moved back to Gilbertsville shortly before his death in 1881. He is buried in Brookside Cemetery in Gilbertsville.[3]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Catalogue of the officers & students of Hamilton College. December 2, 1822. :: Hamilton College Publications". contentdm6.hamilton.edu. Archived from the original on April 14, 2016. Retrieved March 30, 2016.
  2. ^ "Sen. Abijah Gilbert". GovTrack.us. Retrieved April 26, 2016.
  3. ^ "GILBERT, Abijah, (1806 - 1881)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved April 26, 2016.
U.S. Senate
Preceded by U.S. senator (Class 1) from Florida
1869–1875
Served alongside: Thomas W. Osborn and Simon B. Conover 		Succeeded by