Francis Granger (December 1, 1792 – August 31, 1868) was an American politician who represented Ontario County, New York , in the United States House of Representatives for three non-consecutive terms. He was a leading figure in the state and national Whig Party , particularly in its moderate-conservative faction. He served as a Whig vice presidential nominee on the party's multi-candidate 1836 ticket and, in that role, became the only person to ever lose a contingent election for the vice presidency in the U.S. Senate. He also served briefly in 1841 as United States Postmaster General in the cabinet of William Henry Harrison . In 1856, he became the final Whig Party chairman before the party's collapse, after which he joined the Constitutional Union Party .
41-633: Granger was born in Suffield, Connecticut , on December 1, 1792. Granger was born into a prominent political family, with his father, Gideon Granger , serving in the Connecticut House of Representatives before being appointed by Thomas Jefferson as the longest serving Postmaster General in United States history. His mother was Mindwell ( née Pease) Granger (1770–1860) and his first cousin, Amos Phelps Granger , also served two terms in
82-520: A contingent election , the only contingent vice presidential election by the Senate in history, under the Twelfth Amendment with the U.S. Senate deciding between the top two vote-getters Johnson and Granger. As the 25th Congress consisted of 35 Democrats and 17 Whigs, Granger could not hope to be elected and was defeated by Johnson 33–16. In the general election of the same year, Granger
123-679: A New England town. Named for the Kent family of Suffield, the Kent Memorial Library is an important research center for source materials, records, and documents from north-central Connecticut. A walk along Main Street reveals many examples of 18th and 19th century architecture. The Dr. Alexander King House, on the corner of Kent Avenue, and the Phelps-Hatheway House, a little farther north on Main Street, are museums open to
164-547: A general ticket August 1, 1842. New Hampshire lost 1 seat, going from 5 to 4 members. Elections were held at-large on a general ticket March 3, 1843. New Jersey lost 1 seats, going from 6 to 5 members. Elections were held from districts October 8, 1842, having previously elected them at-large. New York lost 6 seats, going from 40 to 34 members, but remaining the largest delegation. Its thirty-four members were elected November 8, 1842. North Carolina lost 4 seats, going from 13 to 9 members. Elections were held August 3, 1843, after
205-546: A general ticket October 3, 1842. Illinois gained 4 seats, going from 3 to 7 members. Elections were held August 7, 1842. Indiana gained 3 seats, going from 7 to 10 members. Elections were held August 7, 1843, after the March 4, 1843 beginning of the term. Kentucky lost 3 seats, going from 13 to 10 members. Elections were held August 7, 1843, after the March 4, 1843 beginning of the term. Louisiana gained 1 seats, going from 3 to 4 members. Elections were held July 3–5, 1843, after
246-527: A month in office. In 1841, Granger was appointed Postmaster General in the Cabinet of President William Henry Harrison and served from March 6 to September 18, 1841, the day when almost all Whig Cabinet members left the government of new President John Tyler on the instruction of their party leader Henry Clay . Following that event, he was again elected to the Congress in a special election to fill
287-558: A month of taking office, his successor as president, John Tyler was only nominally a Whig who had not been properly validated for alignment to Whig policy. Effectively an independent, Tyler was disliked by politicians and was unpopular with voters of both parties, leaving the Whigs unexpectedly leaderless and in visible disarray. Despite the improving economy, rural voters favored Democrats, again rejecting Whig economic nationalism. The Whig Party lost 69 seats and their sizeable majority from
328-603: A single member at-large. Mississippi gained 2 seats, going from 2 to 4 members. Elections were held at-large on a general ticket November 6–7, 1843, after the March 4, 1843 beginning of the term. Due to a banking crisis in Mississippi, the state Democratic party was split into two factions; the Redemptions, which favored the repudiation of bank bonds, and Anti-Redemptions, which opposed it. Missouri gained 3 seats, going from 2 to 5 members. Elections were held at-large on
369-760: A slave belonging to early Suffield settler, Lieut. Joshua Leavitt, died November 5, 1732. Some of Leavitt's descendants became ardent abolitionists , including Joshua Leavitt and his cousin Roger Hooker Leavitt , who operated an Underground Railroad station in Charlemont, Massachusetts . One of the earliest graduates of the Yale Medical School was one of Suffield's earliest physicians. Dr. Asaph Leavitt Bissell, born in 1791 at Hanover, New Hampshire , to parents originally from Suffield, attended Dartmouth College , and later graduated in
410-644: Is part of the Capitol Planning Region , and located in the Connecticut River Valley . As of the 2020 census , the population was 15,752. The town center is a census-designated place listed as Suffield Depot . Bordering Massachusetts , Suffield is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts NECTA . It was once within the boundaries of Massachusetts . Originally known as Southfield—pronounced "Suffield," on May 20, 1674,
451-609: Is water. The town center ( Suffield Depot CDP ) has a total area of 2.0 square miles (5.1 km ), all of it land. Suffield is on the west bank of the Connecticut River , 8 miles (13 km) south of the river's largest city, Springfield, Massachusetts , and 16 miles (26 km) north of Connecticut's capital, Hartford . Two bridges span the river to the town of Enfield : the Amtrak/Springfield Terminal Railroad Bridge and
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#1732801690303492-713: The Dwight family of Northampton, Massachusetts , the Hooker family of Hartford, the Dudleys of Guilford, Connecticut , and the Leavitts of Suffield. Descendants of Robert Olds, who arrived from Sherborne , Dorset , in 1667, include automotive pioneer Ransom Eli Olds , Copperhead Ohio politician Edson Baldwin Olds , his great-grandson USAAF General Robert Olds , and his son, iconic USAF fighter pilot Robin Olds . Slavery
533-555: The Enfield–Suffield Veterans Bridge . The Metacomet Ridge , a mountainous trap rock ridgeline that stretches from Long Island Sound to nearly the Vermont border, runs through the center of Suffield from south to north as West Suffield Mountain . The 51-mile (82 km) Metacomet Trail traverses the ridge. As of the census of 2000, there were 13,552 people, 4,660 households, and 3,350 families residing in
574-679: The Francis Granger House , was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. Together, they had a daughter, son, and an unnamed second daughter who died with her mother in childbirth in 1823. Granger died in Canandaigua on August 31, 1868. He was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery . Suffield, Connecticut Suffield is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut , United States. The town
615-529: The House of Representatives before the first session of the 28th United States Congress convened on December 4, 1843. The exception was Maryland, who held theirs so late that they ran into February 1844. These elections occurred during President John Tyler 's term. The congressional reapportionment based on the 1840 United States census unusually decreased the number of House seats, from 242 down to 223. After Whig President William Henry Harrison died within
656-692: The Western Reserve lands in Ohio, most of which were controlled by Suffield financiers and speculators; and Thaddeus Leavitt , inventor of an early cotton gin , merchant and patentee of the Western Reserve lands. Thanks to the town's early prominence and wealth, it boasts an astonishing collection of early New England architecture. The Kent family, for whom the town's library is named, originated in Gloucester, Massachusetts , and boasted relations to many prominent early New England families, including
697-564: The 1840 election, almost half their House delegation (one of the Whigs who won re-election was William Wright of New Jersey , elected as an "Independent Whig" ). The Democrats won a majority, flipping 48 Whig seats (this includes Henry Nes of Pennsylvania , elected as an Independent Democrat ). In Rhode Island, the Law and Order Party , formed in response to the Dorr Rebellion , won both of Rhode Island's two seats. Apportionment
738-511: The March 4, 1843 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1843. George B. Rodney Whig George B. Rodney Whig Delaware stayed at 1 seat, electing its one member at-large November 8, 1842. The election was decided by a nine-vote margin. See Non-voting delegates , below. Georgia lost 1 seat, going from 9 to 8 members. Elections were held at-large on
779-423: The March 4, 1843 beginning of the term. Maine lost 1 seat, going from 8 to 7 members. Elections were held September 11, 1843, after the March 4, 1843 beginning of the term. Maryland lost 2 seats, going from 8 to 6 members. Elections were held February 14, 1844, after the March 4, 1843 beginning of the term. Maryland's elections to the next Congress were held February 14, 1844 , after the 1842–1843 election cycle
820-511: The March 4, 1843 beginning of the term. Ohio gained 2 seats, going from 19 to 21 members. Its twenty-one members were elected October 10, 1843, after the March 4, 1843 beginning of the term. Pennsylvania lost 4 seats, going from 28 to 24 members. Its twenty-four members were elected October 10, 1843, after the March 4, 1843 beginning of the term. Rhode Island stayed at 2 seats, but elected its members from districts, having previously elected them at-large. Elections were held August 29, 1843, after
861-463: The March 4, 1843 beginning of the term. South Carolina lost 2 seats, going from 9 to 7 members. Elections were held February 20–21, 1843. Tennessee lost 2 seats, going from 13 to 11 members. Elections were held August 3, 1842. Vermont lost 1 seat, going from 5 to 4 members. Elections were held September 5, 1843, after the March 4, 1843 beginning of the term. Virginia lost 6 seats, going from 21 to 15 members. Elections were held April 27, 1843, after
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#1732801690303902-409: The March 4, 1843 beginning of the term. In the 1841 elections, Alabama briefly used at-large general-ticket elections, but in these elections it returned to districts. Edward Cross Democratic Edward Cross Democratic Arkansas stayed at 1 seat, electing its one member at-large October 3, 1842. Connecticut lost 2 seats, reduced from 6 to 4 members. Elections were held April 5, 1843, after
943-609: The National Republican Party. He was then elected as an Anti-Jacksonian to the 24th Congress serving from March 4, 1835, to March 3, 1837. In 1836 , the Whig Party was unable to settle on one set of candidates for its presidential ticket. Granger was a regional vice presidential nominee for the northern and border states on the same ticket as William Henry Harrison , though in Massachusetts he
984-686: The United States House of Representatives. Granger pursued classical studies at and graduated from Yale College in 1811. He then moved with his father to Canandaigua, New York , in 1814, where he studied law , was admitted to the bar in 1816 and commenced practice . Granger started his own political career as a member of the New York State Assembly from 1826 to 1828 and from 1830 to 1832. He ran unsuccessful campaigns for Lieutenant Governor of New York in 1828, and for Governor of New York in both 1830 and 1832 with
1025-407: The average family size was 3.04. In the town, the population was spread out, with 22.1% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 31.7% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 116.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 121.1 males. The median income for a household in the town
1066-765: The collapse of the Whig Party in the state in 1855. Chairman of the Whig National Executive Committee from 1856 to 1860, Granger joined in the call for the convention of the Constitutional Union Party that was held in May 1860. He was then a member of the peace convention of 1861 held in Washington, D.C. , in an effort to devise means to prevent the impending war . He married Cornelia Rutsen Van Rensselaer (1798–1823),
1107-535: The committee for the settling of the town petitioned: ...that the name of the place may be Suffield, it being the southernmost town that either at present is, or like to be in that Countrey, and neere adjoining to the south border of our Patent in those parts. [ sic ] The petition was granted by the Massachusetts Bay court on June 8, 1674. Suffield was incorporated as a town in March 1682. Also, on early 17th and 18th century maps, Suffield
1148-483: The construction of a sawmill, and used two of his slaves, Harry and Roco, for the construction. Suffield's third minister, Reverend Ebenezer Devotion, became minister in 1710, and "sixteen years later the town voted to give him £20 to purchase a slave. Reverend Ebenezer Gay, Devotion's successor, owned six slaves throughout his long term, 1742–1796. Reverend Ebenezer Gay Jr. manumitted his family's three remaining slaves in 1812. They were Titus, Ginny and Dinah. "Princess,"
1189-571: The daughter of Jeremiah Van Rensselaer and Sybella Adeline (née Kane) Van Rensselaer. She was also the granddaughter of Brigadier General Robert Van Rensselaer , who was a member of the New York Provincial Congress from 1775 to 1777 and later a member of the New York State Assembly in the 1st , 2nd and 4th New York State Legislatures . The Grangers' home at Canandaigua from 1817 to 1827, now known as
1230-410: The population. There were 4,660 households, out of which 32.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.2% were married couples living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.1% were non-families. Of all households, 23.3% were made up of individuals, and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and
1271-707: The public from May to October. Sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places include: The town's public school system, Suffield Public Schools , includes Spaulding Elementary School, McAlister Intermediate School, Suffield Middle School, and Suffield High School . Suffield is also the home of Suffield Academy , a private coeducational preparatory school. United States House of Representatives elections, 1842 John White Whig John Jones Democratic The 1842–43 United States House of Representatives elections were held on various dates in various states between August 1, 1842, and November 8, 1843. Each state set its own date for its elections to
Francis Granger - Misplaced Pages Continue
1312-597: The second class of the Yale Medical School. Bissell moved to Suffield, where he rode horseback to make house calls on his patients. Bissell's saddlebags are today in the collection of the Yale Medical School's Historical Society. According to the United States Census Bureau , the town has a total area of 42.9 square miles (111.2 km ), of which 42.3 square miles (109.5 km ) is land and 0.69 square miles (1.8 km ), or 1.58%,
1353-427: The town. The population density was 321.0 inhabitants per square mile (123.9/km ). There were 4,853 housing units at an average density of 115.0 per square mile (44.4/km ). The racial makeup of the town was 88.67% White , 6.95% African American , 0.24% Native American , 0.94% Asian , 0.04% Pacific Islander , 2.03% from other races , and 1.13% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.25% of
1394-538: The vacancy caused by the resignation of Representative John Greig . He served from November 27, 1841, to March 3, 1843, and was not a candidate for reelection in 1842 . A supporter of the Compromise of 1850 , Granger led the pro- Fillmore group which became known as the Silver Gray Whigs after Granger's own silver hair. This faction would remain in conflict with the anti-Compromise Sewardites until
1435-526: Was $ 66,698, and the median income for a family was $ 79,189. Males had a median income of $ 52,096 versus $ 35,188 for females. The per capita income for the town was $ 28,171. About 1.8% of families and 3.6% of the population were below the poverty line , including 2.5% of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over. Main Street, a designated historic district with the Green, three churches, Suffield Academy and vintage colonial and Victorian homes, typifies
1476-595: Was also running as a Whig candidate for election to the 25th Congress , but failed in that bid as well. He was re-elected to Congress as a Whig to the 26th and 27th Congresses serving from March 4, 1839, to March 5, 1841. Harrison would win the presidency four years later in 1840 but Granger was not again his running mate and was instead replaced by John Tyler. If Granger had been reselected as Harrison's running mate in 1840, Granger as vice president would have become president when President Harrison died in April 1841 after
1517-670: Was alternatively spelled as Suthfield. Suffield and the surrounding area were part of the Equivalent Lands compromise with Massachusetts in 1715–1716. Suffield's native and adopted sons include The Rev. Ebenezer Gay, a renowned Congregational minister; U.S. Postmaster General Gideon Granger ; real estate speculator Oliver Phelps , once the largest landowner in America; composer Timothy Swan ; architect Henry A. Sykes ; sculptor Olin Levi Warner ; Seth Pease, surveyor of
1558-566: Was based on the census of 1840 and was unusual in that the number of House seats was decreased, from 242 to 223: this came after the Apportionment Act of 1842 mandated that all members be elected from single-member contiguous districts, thus abolishing plural districts and at-large districts . Four states that did not comply with this new law delayed redistricting under a grandfather clause. Alabama gained 2 seats, going from 5 to 7 members. Elections were held August 7, 1843, after
1599-668: Was common throughout the Connecticut River Valley during the 18th century, and the 1774 Census for the Colony of Connecticut listed 37 slaves in Suffield. Throughout the Connecticut Valley, wealthy merchants, tavern owners and town ministers owned slaves. When Major John Pynchon originally purchased from the Pequonnocks and Agawam tribes a six-mile tract of land, which he called Stoney Brooke Plantation, he first ordered
1640-582: Was on the Whig ticket headed by Daniel Webster . Though Democrat Martin Van Buren secured enough votes in the Electoral College to win the presidency, Virginia's 23 electors refused to vote for his running mate Richard M. Johnson , who had then lacked only one vote. As a result, votes were split among Johnson, Granger, John Tyler and William Smith with none getting the majority. This triggered
1681-425: Was passed and almost after the next Congress completed. Massachusetts lost 2 seats, going from 12 to 10 members. Elections were held November 14, 1842, but some districts' elections stretched to multiple ballots into 1843 and very early 1844. Michigan gained 2 seats, going from 1 to 3 members. Elections were held from districts November 8, 1843, after the March 4, 1843 beginning of the term, having previously elected