Erastus Root was an American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 lawyer and politician

Politician

A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...

 from New York

New York

New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...

.

Life

He graduated from Dartmouth College

Dartmouth College

Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...

 in 1793 and became a teacher. Then he studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1796, and commenced practice in Delhi, New York

Delhi, New York

Delhi, New York may refer to:* Delhi , New York, county seat of Delaware County, New York, USA* Delhi , New York, in which the village of Delhi is located...

.

He was a member of the New York State Assembly

New York State Assembly

The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...

 from 1798 to 1802.

In 1802, he was elected as a Democratic-Republican in the 14th District to the 8th United States Congress

8th United States Congress

- Senate :* President: Aaron Burr * President pro tempore: John Brown , October 17, 1803 – February 26, 1804** Jesse Franklin , March 10, 1804 – November 4, 1804** Joseph Anderson , January 15, 1805 – December 1, 1805- House of Representatives :...

, and served from March 4, 1803 to March 3, 1805. Afterwards he resumed his law practice.

In 1808, he was elected in the 12th District to the 11th United States Congress

11th United States Congress

- House of Representatives :-Leadership:- Senate :* President: George Clinton * President pro tempore:** John Milledge ** Andrew Gregg , elected June 26, 1809** John Gaillard , elected February 28, 1810...

, and served from March 4, 1809 to March 3, 1811, and was chairman of the Committee on Claims.

He was a member from the Middle District of the New York State Senate

New York State Senate

The New York State Senate is one of two houses in the New York State Legislature and has members each elected to two-year terms. There are no limits on the number of terms one may serve...

 from 1811 to 1815.

In 1815, he contested successfully the election of John Adams

John Adams (New York)

John Adams was a United States Congressman from New York.-Life:...

 in the 8th District to the 14th United States Congress

14th United States Congress

- Senate :* President: Vacant* President pro tempore: John Gaillard of South Carolina, first elected December 4, 1815- House of Representatives :* Speaker: Henry Clay of Kentucky-Members:This list is arranged by chamber, then by state...

, and took his seat on December 26, 1815, served until March 3, 1817, and was chairman of the Committee on Expenditures in the War Department.

He was again a member of the State Assembly from 1818 to 1822, and was a delegate to the New York State Constitutional Convention of 1821.

He was Lieutenant Governor of New York

Lieutenant Governor of New York

The Lieutenant Governor of New York is a constitutional office in the executive branch of the government of New York State. It is the second highest ranking official in state government. The lieutenant governor is elected on a ticket with the governor for a four year term...

 under Joseph C. Yates

Joseph C. Yates

Joseph Christopher Yates was an American lawyer, politician. statesman, and founding trustee of Union College.-History:...

 (1823–1824), but was defeated when running for reelection on the ticket with Samuel Young

Samuel Young (New York)

Samuel Young was an American lawyer and politician.-Life:In 1813, he was Moderator of the Board of Supervisors of Saratoga County....

.

He returned to the State Assembly again from 1826 to 1828, and in 1830, and was Speaker

Speaker of the New York State Assembly

The Speaker of the New York State Assembly is the highest official in the New York State Assembly, customarily elected from the ranks of the majority party....

 in 1827, 1828 and 1830.

In 1830, he was elected as a Jacksonian in the 11th District to the 22nd United States Congress

22nd United States Congress

-House of Representatives:-Leadership:- Senate :* President:** John C. Calhoun , resigned December 28, 1832, thereafter vacant.* President pro tempore:** Samuel Smith , first elected December 5, 1831** Littleton W...

, serving from March 4, 1831 to March 3, 1833, and was chairman of the Committee on Agriculture

United States House Committee on Agriculture

The U.S. House Committee on Agriculture, or Agriculture Committee is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives. The House Committee on Agriculture has general jurisdiction over federal agriculture policy and oversight of some federal agencies, and it can recommend funding...

.

In 1838, this time as a Whig

Whig Party (United States)

The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic...

, he ran again for the House

United States House of Representatives

The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...

 but was defeated.

He was again a member of the State Senate from 1840 to 1844.

He served for many years as Major-General of the New York State Militia.

He was originally buried at the Old Cemetery, but later re-interred at Woodland Cemetery, both in Delhi, N.Y.

Sources

• http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/root.html#R9M0JBBNX Political Graveyard
• John Stilwell Jenkins: History of Political Parties in the State of New-York (Alden & Markham, Auburn NY, 1846)
• http://virtualology.com/aperastusroot/ Bio at Virtual American Biographies

External links