Edward James Gay (1816-1889)
Encyclopedia
Edward J. Gay was a financier and member of United States Congress
. He was born at Liberty, Bedford County
, Virginia
, in the United States
. Gay is grandfather of Edward James Gay
, who also served in the U.S. Congress.
in 1820, and four years later to St. Louis, Missouri
. For several years he studied under a private teacher in Belleville, Illinois
; attended Augusta College in Kentucky
in 1833-34; returned to St. Louis, and was engaged in commercial affairs from 1839 to 1860. Although having no formal education in business, Gay was a deep student of industrial and political economy from early manhood on. From St. Louis he moved to Louisiana
where he became interested in manufacturing and planting. He was prominently connected with the erection of the Merchant's Exchange Building in St. Louis., and was the first president of the Louisiana Sugar Exchange of New Orleans
. Gay was originally opposed to secession, but once the American Civil War
broke out, stood firmly behind the Southern Confederacy
.
, the last survivor of carpet baggerism
in Louisiana, becoming a member of the 49th Congress
as a Democrat
. He was re-elected to the 50th
and 51st Congresses
and died at his home, the St. Louis Plantation, on May 30, 1889 while still in office. Gay is buried at Bellefontaine Cemetery, St. Louis.
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
. He was born at Liberty, Bedford County
Bedford County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 60,371 people, 23,838 households, and 18,164 families residing in the county. The population density was 80 people per square mile . There were 26,841 housing units at an average density of 36 per square mile...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Gay is grandfather of Edward James Gay
Edward James Gay (1878-1952)
Edward James Gay II was a United States Senator from Louisiana. Born on Union Plantation in Iberville Parish, he attended Pantops Academy the Lawrenceville School , and Princeton University in Princeton, New Jersey, from which he did not graduate...
, who also served in the U.S. Congress.
Early history
His family moved to IllinoisIllinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
in 1820, and four years later to St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
. For several years he studied under a private teacher in Belleville, Illinois
Belleville, Illinois
Belleville is a city in St. Clair County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city has a population of 44,478. It is the eighth-most populated city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area and the most populated city south of Springfield in the state of Illinois. It is the county...
; attended Augusta College in Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
in 1833-34; returned to St. Louis, and was engaged in commercial affairs from 1839 to 1860. Although having no formal education in business, Gay was a deep student of industrial and political economy from early manhood on. From St. Louis he moved to Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
where he became interested in manufacturing and planting. He was prominently connected with the erection of the Merchant's Exchange Building in St. Louis., and was the first president of the Louisiana Sugar Exchange of New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
. Gay was originally opposed to secession, but once the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
broke out, stood firmly behind the Southern Confederacy
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
.
Political career
Although not inclined towards politics, in 1884 his friends and associates convinced him to run for Congress. Gay defeated William Pitt KelloggWilliam P. Kellogg
William Pitt Kellogg was an American politician and a governor of Louisiana from 1873-1877 during Reconstruction. He was one of the most important politicians in Louisiana during and immediately after Reconstruction...
, the last survivor of carpet baggerism
Carpetbagger
Carpetbaggers was a pejorative term Southerners gave to Northerners who moved to the South during the Reconstruction era, between 1865 and 1877....
in Louisiana, becoming a member of the 49th Congress
49th United States Congress
The Forty-ninth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1885 to March 4, 1887, during the first two years...
as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
. He was re-elected to the 50th
50th United States Congress
The Fiftieth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1887 to March 4, 1889, during the third and fourth...
and 51st Congresses
51st United States Congress
The Fifty-first United States Congress, referred to by some critics as the Billion Dollar Congress, was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C...
and died at his home, the St. Louis Plantation, on May 30, 1889 while still in office. Gay is buried at Bellefontaine Cemetery, St. Louis.