Henry Meigs

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Henry Meigs
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 2nd district
In office
March 4, 1819 – March 3, 1821
Serving with Peter H. Wendover
Preceded byWilliam Irving
Peter H. Wendover
Succeeded byJohn J. Morgan
Churchill C. Cambreleng
Member of the New York State Assembly
In office
1818
Personal details
Born(1782-10-28)October 28, 1782
New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.
DiedMay 20, 1861(1861-05-20) (aged 78)
New York City, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic-Republican
ChildrenHenry
Parent(s)Josiah Meigs
Clara Benjamin
Alma materYale College
ProfessionPolitician, lawyer
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
RankAdjutant
Battles/warsWar of 1812

Henry Meigs (October 28, 1782 – May 20, 1861) was a U.S. Representative from New York.

Born in New Haven, Connecticut, the son of Josiah Meigs and Clara (Benjamin) Meigs,[1] Meigs attended the common schools. He was graduated from Yale College in 1799. He studied law. He was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in New York City. He served in the War of 1812 with the rank of adjutant. He served as member of the state assembly in 1818.

Meigs was elected as a Democratic-Republican to the Sixteenth Congress (March 4, 1819 – March 3, 1821). He served as chairman of the Committee on Expenditures on Public Buildings (Sixteenth Congress). He served as president of the board of aldermen of New York City in 1832 and 1833. He served as judge of one of the city courts and afterward clerk of the court of general sessions.

Meigs was elected recording secretary of the American Institute of the City of New York in 1845, and retained this position in connection with the secretaryship of the Farmers' Club until his death. He died in New York City on May 20, 1861. According to Congressional records, he was interred in St. Ann's Churchyard, Perth Amboy, New Jersey, but church records record that he was originally buried in St. Luke's in New York City and later moved to St. Peter's Churchyard in Perth Amboy.

His son, Henry Meigs Jr. was the first mayor of Bayonne, New Jersey, and the president of the New York Stock Exchange.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Henry Meigs, by Rick Meigs, Meigs Family Genealogy and History website


  • United States Congress. "Henry Meigs (id: M000632)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 2nd congressional district

1819–1821
with Peter H. Wendover
Succeeded by