Orsamus Cook Merrill | |
|---|---|
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| Member of the United States House of Representatives fromVermont's1st district | |
| In office March 4, 1817 – January 12, 1820 | |
| Preceded by | Daniel Chipman |
| Succeeded by | Rollin Carolas Mallary |
| Member of theVermont House of Representatives | |
| In office 1822–1823 1841–1847 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1775-06-18)June 18, 1775 Farmington, Connecticut Colony, British America |
| Died | April 12, 1865(1865-04-12) (aged 89) Bennington, Vermont, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic-Republican Party[1] |
| Profession | Politician,Lawyer,Judge |
Orsamus Cook Merrill (June 18, 1775 – April 12, 1865) was aU.S. Representative fromVermont.
Merrill was born inFarmington in theConnecticut Colony to James and Jerusha Seymour Merrill. He completed his preparatory studies in Farmington, and moved toBennington, Vermont in 1791 where he was anapprentice to aprinter.[2] He was an editor or publisher of several newspapers, including the"Vermont Gazette" and the"Tablet of the Times" in Bennington, and the"Berkshire Gazette" inPittsfield, Massachusetts.[3]
He later studied law, wasadmitted to the bar in 1805, and practiced in Bennington.[4]
From 1809 to 1812 he wasPostmaster of Bennington.[5]
In the early 1800s he also served asEngrossing Clerk of theVermont House of Representatives.[6]
He served in upstateNew York and Vermont during theWar of 1812 as aMajor of the11th Infantry Regiment, and aLieutenant Colonel in the26th Infantry and 11th Infantry.[7]
When Merrill received promotion to lieutenant colonel in the 26th Infantry, his replacement as major in the 11th wasZachary Taylor, who was promoted fromcaptain in the7th Infantry.[8]
Merrill became Register of Probate forBennington County in 1815 and served as Clerk of the Courts in 1816.[9]
Merrill was elected as aDemocratic-Republican candidate to theFifteenth Congress, serving from March 4, 1817 until March 3, 1819.[10] He presented credentials as a Member-elect to theSixteenth Congress and served from March 4, 1819 until January 12, 1820, when he was succeeded byRollin C. Mallary, who successfully contested the election.[11][12]
Merrill lost elections for Congress in 1822, 1826, 1827, 1830, 1832, and 1833, evidence that Vermont was trending away fromDemocrats and towards, in succession, theAnti-Masons,Whigs andRepublicans.[13]
In 1822 Merrill served as a delegate to the State constitutional convention.[14]
He served in theVermont House of Representatives[15] from 1822 to 1823 and from 1841 to 1847 he was county Judge of Probate.[16]
He was Bennington County'sState's Attorney from 1823 to 1825,[17] a member of the Governor's Council from 1824 until 1827, and a member of the firstVermont State Senate after the body was created in 1836.[18]
In 1839 he ran unsuccessfully forlieutenant governor.[19]
Merrill married Mary Robinson on August 18, 1805 and they had three children.[20] Mary Robinson was the daughter ofJonathan Robinson.[21]
O.C. Merrill's brotherTimothy served asVermont Secretary of State from 1831 to 1836. His nephewFarrand F. Merrill (son of Timothy) served as Secretary of State from 1849 to 1853.[22]
Merrill died in Bennington on April 12, 1865.
orasmus merrill Register of probate.
| Party political offices | ||
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| Preceded by John S. Pettibone | Democratic nominee forLieutenant Governor of Vermont 1839 | Succeeded by Edward D. Barber |
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromVermont's at-large congressional district 1817-1820 | Succeeded by |
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