Richard Chappel Parsons (October 10, 1826 – January 9, 1899) was an American lawyer and politician who served as a

U.S. Representative The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they c ...

from

Ohio Ohio () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Of the fifty U.S. states, it is the 34th-largest by area, and with a population of nearly 11.8 million, is the seventh-most populous and tenth-most densely populated. The sta ...

for one term from 1873 to 1875.

Early life and career

Born in

New London, Connecticut New London is a seaport city and a port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States, located at the mouth of the Thames River in New London County, Connecticut. It was one of the world's three busiest whaling ports for several decade ...

, Parsons pursued classical studies, and moved to

Norwalk, Ohio Norwalk is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Huron County. The population was 17,012 at the 2010 census. The city is the center of the Norwalk Micropolitan Statistical Area and part of the Cleveland-Akron-Canton Combined ...

, in 1845. He studied law, and was

admitted to the bar An admission to practice law is acquired when a lawyer receives a license to practice law. In jurisdictions with two types of lawyer, as with barristers and solicitors, barristers must gain admission to the bar whereas for solicitors there are dist ...

in 1851 and commenced practice at Cleveland, Ohio. He was the law partner of Rufus P. Spalding, a prominent Ohio politician and jurist who would himself serve three terms in the

U.S. House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they ...

. Parsons was the son-in-law of

Samuel Starkweather Samuel Starkweather (December 27, 1799 – July 5, 1876) was the seventh mayor of Cleveland, Ohio from 1844 to 1845 and the fifteenth mayor of Cleveland from 1857 to 1858. Starkweather was born in Pawtucket, Rhode Island to Oliver and Miriam (C ...

, who served non-consecutive terms as

mayor In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilities of a mayor as well ...

of Cleveland, Ohio in the mid-1800s.

Early political career

He served as member of the city council in 1852 and 1853 and served as president in 1853. He served as member of the State house of representatives 1858-1861 and served one term as speaker. He was appointed consul to

Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro ( , , ; literally 'River of January'), or simply Rio, is the capital of the state of the same name, Brazil's third-most populous state, and the second-most populous city in Brazil, after São Paulo. Listed by the GaWC as a ...

Brazil Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...

, on March 27, 1862, but resigned, effective October 1, 1862. He served as collector of internal revenue at Cleveland 1862–1866. President Andrew Johnson offered Parsons the offices of Governor of

Montana Territory The Territory of Montana was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from May 26, 1864, until November 8, 1889, when it was admitted as the 41st state in the Union as the state of Montana. Original boundaries ...

and

Assistant Secretary of the Treasury A United States Assistant Secretary of the Treasury is one of several positions in the United States Department of the Treasury, serving under the United States Secretary of the Treasury. History According to U.S. statute, there are eight Assista ...

. He declined both, instead serving as the first Marshal of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1867 to 1872.

Congress

Parsons was elected as a

Republican Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...

to the Forty-third Congress (March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1875). He was an unsuccessful Republican candidate for reelection to the Forty-fourth Congress.

Later career

He resumed the practice of law in Cleveland, Ohio. He was editor and part owner with William Perry Fogg of the Cleveland ''Daily Herald'' in 1877.

Death

He died in Cleveland, Ohio, January 9, 1899. He was interred in

Lake View Cemetery Lake View Cemetery is a privately owned, nonprofit garden cemetery located in the cities of Cleveland, Cleveland Heights, and East Cleveland in the U.S. state of Ohio. Founded in 1869, the cemetery was favored by wealthy families during the Gil ...

References

Sources

{{DEFAULTSORT:Parsons, Richard Chappel 1826 births 1899 deaths Politicians from New London, Connecticut People from New London, Ohio Lawyers from Cleveland Burials at Lake View Cemetery, Cleveland Speakers of the Ohio House of Representatives 19th-century American newspaper publishers (people) Cleveland City Council members 19th-century American diplomats 19th-century American journalists American male journalists 19th-century American legislators 19th-century American male writers Journalists from Ohio Republican Party members of the Ohio House of Representatives Marshals of the United States Supreme Court 19th-century American lawyers Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Ohio