Mason Tappan
Encyclopedia
Mason Weare Tappan was a New Hampshire
state representative, a U.S. Congressman from 1855 to 1861, a colonel
during the American Civil War
and the state attorney general
.
He was born in Newport, New Hampshire
, and grew up in Bradford
. He attended private schools and the Hopkinton
and Meriden
academies. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1841 and commenced practice in Bradford.
Tappan served in the New Hampshire House of Representatives
1853-1855. He was elected as an American Party candidate to the Thirty-fourth Congress and reelected as a Republican to the Thirty-fifth and Thirty-sixth Congresses (March 4, 1855-March 3, 1861). While in Congress, he sereved as chairman, Committee on Claims (Thirty-sixth Congress). He was not a candidate for renomination in 1860.
During the Civil War, he served as colonel of the 1st New Hampshire Infantry
, a three-months regiment
raised in 1861 in response to President Abraham Lincoln
's call to arms. He mustered out in August 1861.
Tappan died in office as the attorney general at the age of 69. He is buried in Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Bradford, New Hampshire.
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
state representative, a U.S. Congressman from 1855 to 1861, a colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
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 the state attorney general
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
.
He was born in Newport, New Hampshire
Newport, New Hampshire
Newport is a town in and the county seat of Sullivan County, New Hampshire, United States. It is west-northwest of Concord. The population was 6,507 at the 2010 census. A covered bridge is in the northwest...
, and grew up in Bradford
Bradford, New Hampshire
Bradford is a town in Merrimack County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 1,650 at the 2010 census. The main village of the town, where 356 people resided at the 2010 census, is defined as the Bradford census-designated place , and is located west of the junction of New Hampshire...
. He attended private schools and the Hopkinton
Hopkinton, New Hampshire
Hopkinton is a town in Merrimack County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 5,589 at the 2010 census. It consists of three villages: Hopkinton, West Hopkinton, and Contoocook...
and Meriden
Kimball Union Academy
Kimball Union Academy is a private boarding school located in New Hampshire. Founded in 1813, it is the 22nd oldest boarding school in the United States...
academies. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1841 and commenced practice in Bradford.
Tappan served in the New Hampshire House of Representatives
New Hampshire House of Representatives
The New Hampshire House of Representatives is the lower house in the New Hampshire General Court. The House of Representatives consists of 400 members coming from 103 districts across the state, created from divisions of the state's counties. On average, each legislator represents about 3,300...
1853-1855. He was elected as an American Party candidate to the Thirty-fourth Congress and reelected as a Republican to the Thirty-fifth and Thirty-sixth Congresses (March 4, 1855-March 3, 1861). While in Congress, he sereved as chairman, Committee on Claims (Thirty-sixth Congress). He was not a candidate for renomination in 1860.
During the Civil War, he served as colonel of the 1st New Hampshire Infantry
1st New Hampshire Volunteer Regiment
1st New Hampshire Volunteer Regiment filled its ranks within two weeks of President Lincoln's call for 70,000 men on April 15, 1861. Between April 17 and 30, 1861, not less than 2,004 men volunteered to fight for the Union in the American Civil War...
, a three-months regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
raised in 1861 in response to President Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
's call to arms. He mustered out in August 1861.
Tappan died in office as the attorney general at the age of 69. He is buried in Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Bradford, New Hampshire.