Elbridge Gerry Lapham (October 18, 1814January 8, 1890) was a

U.S. Senator from New York Below is a list of U.S. senators who have represented the State of New York in the United States Senate since 1789. The date of the start of the tenure is either the first day of the legislative term (Senators who were elected regularly before ...

from 1881–1885.

Life

Lapham attended the public schools and the Canandaigua Academy. He studied civil engineering and law and was admitted to the bar in 1844 and practiced in

Canandaigua, New York Canandaigua (; ''Utaʼnaráhkhwaʼ'' in Tuscarora) is a city in Ontario County, New York, United States. Its population was 10,545 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Ontario County; some administrative offices are at the county complex ...

. He was a delegate to the

New York State Constitutional Convention The Constitution of the State of New York establishes the structure of the government of the State of New York, and enumerates the basic rights of the citizens of New York. Like most state constitutions in the United States, New York's constituti ...

of 1867-68. He was elected as a Republican to the 44th, 45th, 46th and

47th United States Congress The 47th United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1881, ...

es, holding office from March 4, 1875, to July 29, 1881, when he resigned after his election to the U.S. Senate. He was one of the managers appointed by the House of Representatives in 1876 to conduct the impeachment proceedings against ex-U.S. Secretary of War William W. Belknap. He was elected as a Republican to the

United States Senate The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States. The composition and ...

on July 22, 1881, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of

Roscoe Conkling Roscoe Conkling (October 30, 1829April 18, 1888) was an American lawyer and Republican politician who represented New York in the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate. He is remembered today as the leader of the Re ...

and served to March 4, 1885. He was not a candidate for re-election. He was Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Fish and Fisheries (

48th Congress The 48th United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1883, ...

). Afterwards he resumed the practice of law in Canandaigua. He died at “Glen Gerry,” on Canandaigua Lake, on January 8, 1890, and was buried at the Woodlawn Cemetery in Canandaigua.

Personal life

Lapham is the son of Judge John Lapham (1793-1860) and his wife, Zimroda Smith Lapham (1793-1879). He is a descendant of John Lapham (1677-1734) and his wife, Mary Russell Lapham (1683-1752). His cousins include Nathan Lapham,

Christopher Lloyd Christopher Allen Lloyd (born October 22, 1938) is an American actor. He has appeared in many theater productions, films, and on television since the 1960s. He is known for portraying Dr. Emmett "Doc" Brown in the ''Back to the Future'' tril ...

and Susan B. Anthony. On July 2, 1844, in

Clifton Springs, New York Clifton Springs is a village located in Ontario County, New York, United States. The population was 2,127 at the 2010 census. The village takes its name from local mineral springs. The Village of Clifton Springs is located primarily in the Tow ...

, he married Jane Frances McBride (1825-1907). They had at least eight children: # Charlotte Lapham (1845-1910) # Ellen Frances Lapham (1850-1926) # Benjamin Franklin Lapham (1852-1907) # Charles Barnard Lapham (1854-1901) # Henry Wager Lapham (1857-1938) # Joanna Louise Lapham (1860-1860) # John R. Lapham (1862-1888) # Elbridge Gerry Lapham Jr. (1866-1921)

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Lapham, Elbridge Gerry 1814 births 1890 deaths Politicians from Canandaigua, New York People from Farmington, New York Republican Party United States senators from New York (state) Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from New York (state) 19th-century American politicians