George P. Barker

George Payson Barker (October 25, 1807 – January 27, 1848) was an American lawyer and politician. He was most notable for serving in the New York State Assembly in 1836 and New York State Attorney General from 1842 to 1845.

George P. Barker
New York State Attorney General
In office
1842–1845
GovernorWilliam H. Seward
William C. Bouck
Silas Wright
Preceded byWillis Hall
Succeeded byJohn Van Buren
Member of the New York State Assembly from Erie County
In office
January 1, 1836 – December 31, 1836
Serving with Wells Brooks
Preceded byWilliam A. Moseley
Ralph Plumb
Succeeded bySquire S. Case
Benjamin O. Bivins
Elisha Smith
Personal details
Born
George Payson Barker

(1807-10-25)October 25, 1807
Rindge, New Hampshire
DiedJanuary 27, 1848(1848-01-27) (aged 40)
Buffalo, New York
Political partyJacksonian
Democrat
Spouse
Abby Coit
​
​
(m. 1834)​
EducationAmherst College
Alma materUnion College
Military service
Branch/serviceNew York State Militia
Years of service1838-1842
RankBrigadier general

Early life

Barker was born on October 25, 1807, in Rindge, Cheshire County, New Hampshire. He was the youngest of four children born to William Barker and Sarah (née Payson) Barker, and the only child to live to maturity.[1] He attended Amherst College from 1823 to 1826, and then entered Union College from which he graduated in 1827, along with Preston King, later a U.S. Representative and U.S. Senator from New York.[1]

Career

While in college, he studied law with Alonzo C. Paige at Schenectady, New York, after graduating he studied law with Stephen G. Austin at Buffalo, and was admitted to the bar in 1830.[2] He practiced law in partnership with Austin until 1832, then with John T. Hudson until 1836. From 1837 to 1839, he practiced law with Seth E. Sill and Seth C. Hawley, then with Sill only until July 1847, and finally with George Coit Jr.[3]

Political career

In 1828, he entered politics joining the Jacksonians, and later becoming a Democrat. In June 1829, he was appointed Clerk of the Village of Buffalo. In 1831 he ran for the Assembly, but was defeated by the Anti-Masonic candidates. In 1832, he was appointed first Attorney of the City of Buffalo, later District Attorney of Erie County which office he resigned in December 1836.[2] In 1834, he ran for Congress but was defeated by the Anti-Masonic candidate Thomas C. Love.[3]

He was a member from Erie County of the New York State Assembly in 1836. On January 31, 1838, he was commissioned a captain in the New York State Militia, on February 12 he was elected a major, on August 14 a lieutenant colonel, and in June 1839 brigadier general of the 8th Brigade, retiring from the militia when he was elected Attorney General in 1842. In 1840, he ran for Mayor of Buffalo, New York, but was defeated by the Whig candidate Sheldon Thompson in a close race: 1135 for Thompson, 1125 for Barker. He was New York State Attorney General from 1842 to 1845.[4] From 1846 to 1847, he was again District Attorney of Erie County.[3]

Personal life

On June 25, 1834, he was married to Abby Coit (1806–1874), a daughter of Benjamin Coit and Sarah (née Coit) Coit.[5] Together, they were the parents of:[6]

Barker died on January 27, 1848, in Buffalo, New York.[2] He was buried at Yantic Cemetery in Norwich, Connecticut.[3] After his death, his widow returned to Norwich and lived with her relatives.[10]

References
  1. Stearns, Ezra S. (1875). History of the Town of Rindge, New Hampshire, from the Date of the Rowley Canada Or Massachusetts Charter, to the Present Time, 1736-1874: With a Genealogical Register of the Rindge Families. Press of G. H. Ellis. p. 347. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  2. "George P. Barker". history.nycourts.gov. Historical Society of the New York Courts. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  3. Bryan, George J. (1849). Life of George P. Barker, with Sketches of Some of His Celebrated Speeches: The Proceedings of the Bar of Erie County on the Occasion of His Death; and the Funeral Sermon of John C. Lord. O. G. Steele. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  4. Hough, Franklin Benjamin (1858). The New York Civil List: Containing the names and origin of the civil divisions, and the names and dates of election or appointment of the principal state and county officers from the Revolution to the present time. Weed, Parsons and Co. p. 63. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  5. Cutter, William Richard (1912). Genealogical and Family History of Western New York: A Record of the Achievements of Her People in the Making of a Commonwealth and the Building of a Nation. Lewis Historical Publishing Company. p. 746. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  6. Newhall, Barker (1901). The Barker family of Plymouth colony and county. F.W. Roberts. p. 84. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  7. Social Register, New York. Social Register Association. 1912. p. 688. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  8. Medicine, New York Academy of (1906). Acts of Incorporation, Constitution and By-laws, List of Fellows, Associate Fellows, Honorary Fellows and Benefactors of the New York Academy of Medicine. ... New York Academy of Medicine. p. 11. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  9. The Successful American, Vol. 1. Part 1. Press Biographical Company. 1899. p. 30. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  10. Bryan, George J. (1886). Biographies of Attorney-General George P. Barker, John C. Lord, D.D., Mrs. John C. Lord, and William G. Bryan, Esq: Also, Lecture on Journalism. Courier Company. p. 24. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
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