Global InformationSilas Wright information
Silas Wright | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 14th Governor of New York | |
| In office January 1, 1845 – December 31, 1846 | |
| Lieutenant | Addison Gardiner |
| Preceded by | William C. Bouck |
| Succeeded by | John Young |
| United States Senator from New York | |
| In office January 4, 1833 – November 26, 1844 | |
| Preceded by | William L. Marcy |
| Succeeded by | Henry A. Foster |
| 8th Comptroller of New York | |
| In office January 21, 1829 – January 7, 1833 | |
| Governor | Martin Van Buren Enos T. Throop William L. Marcy |
| Preceded by | William L. Marcy |
| Succeeded by | Azariah Flagg |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 20th district | |
| In office March 4, 1827 – February 16, 1829 | |
| Preceded by | Daniel Hugunin Jr. |
| Succeeded by | George Fisher |
| Member of the New York State Senate | |
| In office 1824–1827 Serving with Melancton Wheeler (1824), John Cramer, Archibald McIntyre, John Crary (1825), John L. Viele (1826), Duncan McMartin Jr. (1827) | |
| Preceded by | David Erwin, Melancton Wheeler, John Cramer, Archibald McIntyre |
| Succeeded by | John Crary, John L. Viele, Duncan McMartin Jr., Reuben Sanford |
| Constituency | 4th District |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 24, 1795 Amherst, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Died | August 27, 1847 (aged 52) Canton, New York, U.S. |
| Resting place | Old Canton Cemetery |
| Political party | Democratic-Republican (Before 1825) Jacksonian (1825–1828) Democratic (1828–1847) |
| Spouse | Clarissa Moody (1833–1847) |
| Education | Middlebury College (BA) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1822–1829 |
| Rank | Brigadier General |
| Unit | New York State Militia, 12th Division |
| Commands | 7th Regiment, NYSM 49th Brigade, NYSM |
Silas Wright Jr. (May 24, 1795 – August 27, 1847) was an American attorney and Democratic politician. A member of the Albany Regency, he served as a member of the United States House of Representatives, New York State Comptroller, United States Senator, and Governor of New York.
Born in Amherst, Massachusetts and raised in Weybridge, Vermont, Wright graduated from Middlebury College in 1815, studied law, attained admission to the bar, and began a practice in Canton, New York. He soon began a career in politics and government, serving as St. Lawrence County's surrogate judge, a member of the New York State Senate, and a brigadier general in the state militia.
Wright became a member of the Albany Regency, the coterie of friends and supporters of Martin Van Buren who led New York's Democratic Party beginning in the 1820s. As his career progressed, he served in the United States House of Representatives (1827–1829), as State Comptroller (1829–1833), and U.S. Senator (1833–1844). In the Senate, Wright became chairman of the Finance Committee, a post he held from 1836 to 1841. In 1844, Van Buren lost the Democratic presidential nomination to James K. Polk; Polk supporters nominated Wright for vice president as a way to attract Van Buren's support to the ticket, but Wright declined. Later that year he was elected governor, and he served one two-year term. Defeated for reelection in 1846, he retired to his home in Canton. He died in Canton in 1847, and was buried at Old Canton Cemetery.