George A. Brandreth
Encyclopedia
George Adlington Brandreth (1828 Leeds
, West Riding of Yorkshire
, England
- November 15, 1897 Sing Sing
, Westchester County, New York
) was an American lawyer, manufacturer and politician from New York
and Virginia (Smallpage) Brandreth. After the death of his second wife, Benjamin Brandreth emigrated in 1835 to the United States
with his small children and settled in New York City
where he manufactured his panacea
"Brandreth's Pills." Due to the enormous increase in production, he removed in 1838 to Sing Sing (now Ossining), and established there the Brandreth Pill Factory
.
George Brandreth studied law, was admitted to the bar, and practiced in Sing Sing. He married Virginia Gadsby Ward (d. 1872, a daughter of Congressman Aaron Ward
), and they had four daughters: Eliza V. "Lily" (Brandreth) Larkin, Helen Ward (Brandreth) Potter (d. 1905), Fanny R. (Brandreth) Kane and Mary Watson (Brandreth) Borup.
On April 26, 1854, he was re-appointed Consul at Plymouth
, England
.
Originally a Democrat, he joined the War Democrats
during the American Civil War
, and became a Republican after the war. He was a member of the New York State Assembly
in 1864, 1865 and 1866. In May 1864, he was elected Chairman of the War Democratic State Committee.
After the death of his father in 1880, he took over the management of the pills factory. In 1884, he married Annie Ashton.
In 1892, he ran for Congress in the 16th District
but was defeated by Democrat William Ryan
.
He died of "fatty degeneration of the heart."
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
, West Riding of Yorkshire
West Riding of Yorkshire
The West Riding of Yorkshire is one of the three historic subdivisions of Yorkshire, England. From 1889 to 1974 the administrative county, County of York, West Riding , was based closely on the historic boundaries...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
- November 15, 1897 Sing Sing
Ossining (village), New York
Ossining is a village in Westchester County, New York, United States. The population was 25,060 at the 2010 census. As a village, it is located in the Town of Ossining.-Geography:Ossining borders the eastern shores of the widest part of the Hudson River....
, Westchester County, New York
Westchester County, New York
Westchester County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. Westchester covers an area of and has a population of 949,113 according to the 2010 Census, residing in 45 municipalities...
) was an American lawyer, manufacturer and politician 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 was the son of Benjamin BrandrethBenjamin Brandreth
Benjamin Brandreth was a pioneer in the early use of mass advertising to build consumer awareness of his product, a purgative that allegedly cured many ills by purging toxins out of the blood...
and Virginia (Smallpage) Brandreth. After the death of his second wife, Benjamin Brandreth emigrated in 1835 to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
with his small children and settled in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
where he manufactured his panacea
Panacea (medicine)
The panacea , named after the Greek goddess of healing, Panacea, also known as panchrest, was supposed to be a remedy that would cure all diseases and prolong life indefinitely...
"Brandreth's Pills." Due to the enormous increase in production, he removed in 1838 to Sing Sing (now Ossining), and established there the Brandreth Pill Factory
Brandreth Pill Factory
The former Brandreth Pill Factory is a historic industrial complex located on Water Street in Ossining, New York, United States. It consists of several brick buildings from the 19th century, in a variety of contemporary architectural styles...
.
George Brandreth studied law, was admitted to the bar, and practiced in Sing Sing. He married Virginia Gadsby Ward (d. 1872, a daughter of Congressman Aaron Ward
Aaron Ward (representative)
Aaron Ward was an American lawyer and politician from New York.-Life:...
), and they had four daughters: Eliza V. "Lily" (Brandreth) Larkin, Helen Ward (Brandreth) Potter (d. 1905), Fanny R. (Brandreth) Kane and Mary Watson (Brandreth) Borup.
On April 26, 1854, he was re-appointed Consul at Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Originally a Democrat, he joined the War Democrats
War Democrats
War Democrats in American politics of the 1860s were adherents of the Democratic Party who rejected the Copperheads/Peace Democrats who controlled the party...
during 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...
, and became a Republican after the war. 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...
in 1864, 1865 and 1866. In May 1864, he was elected Chairman of the War Democratic State Committee.
After the death of his father in 1880, he took over the management of the pills factory. In 1884, he married Annie Ashton.
In 1892, he ran for Congress in the 16th District
New York's 16th congressional district
New York's 16th Congressional District is a congressional district for the United States House of Representatives located in the Bronx. The district includes the neighborhoods of Bedford Park, East Tremont, Fordham, Hunts Point, Melrose, Highbridge, Morrisania, Mott Haven and University Heights. ...
but was defeated by Democrat William Ryan
William Ryan (53rd Congress)
William Ryan was a U.S. Representative from New York.Born in Tipperary, Ireland, Ryan immigrated to the United States with his parents, who settled in Stanwich, Connecticut, in 1844. He attended the district schools...
.
He died of "fatty degeneration of the heart."
Sources
- Congressional Directory for 1852 (page 40)
- LATEST INTELLIGENCE in NYT on April 27, 1854
- Meeting of the State Committee of War Democrats in NYT on May 26, 1864
- Death notice of his wife Virginia, in NYT on March 6, 1872
- MAARIAGES IN SEPTEMBER; LARKIN - BRANDRETH... in NYT on September 26, 1883 (his daughter Lily V. Brandreth's marriage)
- NEW YORK'S OFFICIAL VOTE in NYT on November 29, 1892
- DEATH OF G. A. BRANDRETH in NYT on November 16, 1897
- BRANDRETH'S WILL FILED in NYT on December 7, 1897
- New York Civil List (1865; pages 473 and 475)