Henry Marie Brackenridge
Encyclopedia
Henry Marie Brackenridge (1786–1871) was an American
writer
, lawyer
, judge
, and Congressman from Pennsylvania
.
He was born the son of the writer and judge Hugh Henry Brackenridge
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
on May 11, 1786. Educated by his father and private tutors, he attended a French academy at St. Genevieve, Louisiana. He studied law and was admitted to the Pennsylvania bar in 1806, then practiced in Somerset, Pennsylvania
.
He moved to St. Louis, Missouri
, where he was a lawyer and journalist. He was appointed deputy attorney general of the Territory of Orleans (Louisiana), and district judge of Louisiana in 1812.
He played an intelligence role during the War of 1812
, and in 1814 published a history of the war. In 1817 he was appointed secretary of a mission to South America
. Brackenridge in 1821 entered the diplomatic service of General Andrew Jackson
, who was the new commissioner of Florida
. Through Jackson's influence, he served as U.S. judge for the western district of Florida 1821–32.
Brackenridge returned to Pennsylvania in 1832 and became owner of a large tract of land upon which he founded the town of Tarentum
, 22 miles northeast of Pittsburgh on the Allegheny River
. The adjacent Allegheny County borough
of Brackenridge
is named for him.
He was elected as a Whig
to the 26th United States Congress
to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Richard Biddle
and served from October 13, 1840, to March 3, 1841. He was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1840.
After politics he pursued literature until his death in Pittsburgh on January 18, 1871. He is buried in Prospect Cemetery, Brackenridge, Pennsylvania.
Brackenridge's published works include Views of Louisiana (1814), part of which was a source for Washington Irving
's Astoria, and a pamphlet South America (1817), which puts forth a policy similar to the Monroe Doctrine
. Sent to South America to study political conditions, he recounted his experiences in Voyage to South America (1819). His Recollections of Persons and Places in the West (1834) is considered a valuable historical source.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
, lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
, and Congressman from Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
.
He was born the son of the writer and judge Hugh Henry Brackenridge
Hugh Henry Brackenridge
Hugh Henry Brackenridge was an American writer, lawyer, judge, and justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.A frontier citizen in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, he founded both the Pittsburgh Academy, now the University of Pittsburgh, and the Pittsburgh Gazette, still operating today as the...
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
on May 11, 1786. Educated by his father and private tutors, he attended a French academy at St. Genevieve, Louisiana. He studied law and was admitted to the Pennsylvania bar in 1806, then practiced in Somerset, Pennsylvania
Somerset, Pennsylvania
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 6,762 people, 3,035 households, and 1,717 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,466.0 people per square mile . There were 3,313 housing units at an average density of 1,208.2 per square mile...
.
He moved 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...
, where he was a lawyer and journalist. He was appointed deputy attorney general of the Territory of Orleans (Louisiana), and district judge of Louisiana in 1812.
He played an intelligence role during the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, and in 1814 published a history of the war. In 1817 he was appointed secretary of a mission to South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
. Brackenridge in 1821 entered the diplomatic service of General Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States . Based in frontier Tennessee, Jackson was a politician and army general who defeated the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend , and the British at the Battle of New Orleans...
, who was the new commissioner of Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. Through Jackson's influence, he served as U.S. judge for the western district of Florida 1821–32.
Brackenridge returned to Pennsylvania in 1832 and became owner of a large tract of land upon which he founded the town of Tarentum
Tarentum, Pennsylvania
Tarentum is a borough in Allegheny County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It is northeast of Downtown Pittsburgh, along the Allegheny River. Tarentum was an industrial center where plate glass and bottles were manufactured; bricks, lumber, steel and iron novelties, steel billets and sheets,...
, 22 miles northeast of Pittsburgh on the Allegheny River
Allegheny River
The Allegheny River is a principal tributary of the Ohio River; it is located in the Eastern United States. The Allegheny River joins with the Monongahela River to form the Ohio River at the "Point" of Point State Park in Downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
. The adjacent Allegheny County borough
Borough
A borough is an administrative division in various countries. In principle, the term borough designates a self-governing township although, in practice, official use of the term varies widely....
of Brackenridge
Brackenridge, Pennsylvania
Brackenridge is a borough in Allegheny County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, along the Allegheny River. It is part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area.The town is named for Henry Marie Brackenridge. The borough once had glass factories...
is named for him.
He was elected 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...
to the 26th United States Congress
26th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:- Leadership :- Senate :*President: Richard M. Johnson *President pro tempore: William R. King - House of Representatives :*Speaker: Robert M.T. Hunter -Members:This list is arranged by chamber, then by state...
to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Richard Biddle
Richard Biddle
Richard Biddle , American author and politician, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and died in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.Richard Biddle received a classical education and was admitted to the bar, practicing law in Pittsburgh...
and served from October 13, 1840, to March 3, 1841. He was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1840.
After politics he pursued literature until his death in Pittsburgh on January 18, 1871. He is buried in Prospect Cemetery, Brackenridge, Pennsylvania.
Brackenridge's published works include Views of Louisiana (1814), part of which was a source for Washington Irving
Washington Irving
Washington Irving was an American author, essayist, biographer and historian of the early 19th century. He was best known for his short stories "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and "Rip Van Winkle", both of which appear in his book The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent. His historical works...
's Astoria, and a pamphlet South America (1817), which puts forth a policy similar to the Monroe Doctrine
Monroe Doctrine
The Monroe Doctrine is a policy of the United States introduced on December 2, 1823. It stated that further efforts by European nations to colonize land or interfere with states in North or South America would be viewed as acts of aggression requiring U.S. intervention...
. Sent to South America to study political conditions, he recounted his experiences in Voyage to South America (1819). His Recollections of Persons and Places in the West (1834) is considered a valuable historical source.