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Erastus Root | |
|---|---|
 Portrait of General Root byRembrandt Peale | |
| Lieutenant Governor of New York | |
| In office January 1, 1823 – December 31, 1824 | |
| Governor | Joseph C. Yates |
| Preceded by | John Tayler |
| Succeeded by | James Tallmadge Jr. |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives from New York | |
| In office 1831–1833 | |
| Preceded by | Perkins King |
| Succeeded by | John Cramer |
| Constituency | 11th district |
| In office 1815–1817 | |
| Preceded by | Samuel Sherwood |
| Succeeded by | Dorrance Kirtland |
| Constituency | 8th district |
| In office 1809–1811 | |
| Preceded by | Nathan Wilson |
| Succeeded by | Arunah Metcalf |
| Constituency | 12th district |
| In office 1803–1805 | |
| Preceded by | Seat established |
| Succeeded by | John Russell |
| Constituency | 14th district |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1773-03-16)March 16, 1773 |
| Died | December 24, 1846(1846-12-24) (aged 73) New York City, US |
| Resting place | Woodland Cemetery |
| Political party | Democratic-Republican (Before 1831) Jacksonian (1831–1838) Whig (1838–1846) |
| Spouse | |
| Parent(s) | William Root Zeruiah Baldwin Root |
| Alma mater | Dartmouth College |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | New York State Militia |
| Rank | Major General |
Erastus Root (March 16, 1773 – December 24, 1846) was an early American lawyer and politician from New York. He is most notable for serving four separate non-consecutive terms in the U.S. House of Representatives in the early 19th century.
Root was born on March 16, 1773, inHebron in theConnecticut Colony. He was a son of William Root (1731–1790) and Zeruiah (née Baldwin) Root (1729–1792).[1]
He graduated fromDartmouth College in 1793 and became a teacher. Then he studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1796, and commenced practice inDelhi, New York.
Erastus Root was a member of theNew York State Assembly (Delaware Co.) in1798–99,1800–01, and1802.
Root was elected as aDemocratic-Republican to the8th United States Congress, holding office from March 4, 1803, to March 3, 1805. Afterwards he resumed his law practice. He was then elected to the11th United States Congress, holding office from March 4, 1809, to March 3, 1811, and was Chairman of theCommittee on Claims. Root was a member of theNew York State Senate (Middle D.) from 1812 to 1815, sitting in the35th,36th,37th, and38th New York State Legislatures.[2]
In 1815, Root contested successfully the election ofJohn Adams to the14th United States Congress arguing that ballots that were cast for "Erastus Rott" should be counted for him, and took his seat on December 26, 1815, served until March 3, 1817, and was Chairman of theCommittee on Expenditures in the War Department.
He was again a member of the State Assembly (Delaware Co.) in1818,1819,1820, and1820–21; and was a delegate to theNew York State Constitutional Convention of 1821. He wasLieutenant Governor of New York from 1823 to 1824, but was defeated whenrunning for re-election on the ticket withSamuel Young in 1824. However, in March–April 1824, Erastus Root was honored with two votes at theDemocratic-Republican Party Caucus to be the party's candidate for U.S. Vice President at theelection later that year.[3][4]
He was again a member of the State Assembly (Delaware Co.) in1826,1827,1828, and1830; and wasSpeaker in 1827, 1828, and 1830.[5]
He was elected as aJacksonian to the22nd United States Congress, holding office from March 4, 1831, to March 3, 1833, and was Chairman of theCommittee on Agriculture. In 1838, this time as aWhig, he ran again for theHouse but was defeated.
He was again a member of the State Senate (3rd D.) from 1840 to 1843, sitting in the63rd,64th,65th, and66th New York State Legislatures.[6]
Root also served as Major-General of theNew York State Militia.[7]
On October 4, 1806, Root was married to Elizabeth Stockton (1788–1871), a daughter of Charles W. Stockton and Elizabeth (née North) Stockton. Together, they were the parents of five children, three girls and two boys, including:[1]
Root died in New York City on December 24, 1846. He was originally buried at the Old Cemetery, but later re-interred at Woodland Cemetery, both in Delhi.
The Town ofRoot inMontgomery County, New York is named for him.[8]
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| New district | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromNew York's 14th congressional district 1803–1805 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromNew York's 12th congressional district 1809–1811 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromNew York's 8th congressional district 1815–1817 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Lieutenant Governor of New York 1823–1824 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Speaker of the New York State Assembly 1827–1828 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Speaker of the New York State Assembly 1830 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromNew York's 11th congressional district 1831–1833 | Succeeded by |
| New York State Senate | ||
| Preceded by | New York State Senate Third District (Class 1) 1840–1843 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
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| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
