Nelson J. Waterbury
Encyclopedia
Nelson Jarvis Waterbury was an American lawyer and politician from New York
.
.
He married Nancy D. M. Gibson (d. 1897), and they had three daughters and a son, Nelson J. Waterbury Jr. who became in 1884 his father's law partner.
He studied law, was admitted to the bar, and in 1842 formed a partnership to practice law with Samuel J. Tilden
. From 1845 to 1849, Waterbury was a justice of the New York City Marine Court. In 1855, he was appointed by Postmaster of New York City Isaac V. Fowler
as his assistant and established the first sub-postal station in the city.
He was New York County District Attorney
from 1859 to 1861, elected on the Democratic ticket in November 1858, but defeated for re-election in 1861 by Republican A. Oakey Hall. In March 1862, he was elected Grand Sachem of Tammany Hall
. In 1863, Waterbury was appointed by Gov. Horatio Seymour
Judge Advocate General of the State Militia. In 1865, he resumed the practice of law.
Although Waterbury left Tammany Hall after William M. Tweed became the boss, he defended Tweed at his trial following the fall of the "Tweed Ring". After Tweed's fall, Waterbury returned to Tammany Hall, but left again in 1875 disagreeing with John Kelly
. Waterbury returned to Tammany Hall in 1890, being an admirer of Richard Croker
and Mayor Thomas F. Gilroy
.
He died of pneumonia
at his residence at 13 West 56th Street in Manhattan
.
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...
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Biography
He was the son of Col. Jonathan Waterbury (d. 1828) and Elizabeth (Jarvis) Waterbury, a niece of Bishop Abraham JarvisAbraham Jarvis
Abraham Jarvis was the second American Episcopal bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut and eighth in succession of bishops in the Episcopal Church. He was a high churchman and a loyalist to the crown....
.
He married Nancy D. M. Gibson (d. 1897), and they had three daughters and a son, Nelson J. Waterbury Jr. who became in 1884 his father's law partner.
He studied law, was admitted to the bar, and in 1842 formed a partnership to practice law with Samuel J. Tilden
Samuel J. Tilden
Samuel Jones Tilden was the Democratic candidate for the U.S. presidency in the disputed election of 1876, one of the most controversial American elections of the 19th century. He was the 25th Governor of New York...
. From 1845 to 1849, Waterbury was a justice of the New York City Marine Court. In 1855, he was appointed by Postmaster of New York City Isaac V. Fowler
Isaac V. Fowler
Isaac Vanderbeck Fowler was thrice the Grand Sachem of the Tammany Society, better known as Tammany Hall, from 1848–1850, 1857–1858, and 1858–1859, the last term shared with William M. "Boss" Tweed...
as his assistant and established the first sub-postal station in the city.
He was New York County District Attorney
New York County District Attorney
The New York County District Attorney is the elected district attorney for New York County , New York. The office is responsible for the prosecution of violations of New York state laws....
from 1859 to 1861, elected on the Democratic ticket in November 1858, but defeated for re-election in 1861 by Republican A. Oakey Hall. In March 1862, he was elected Grand Sachem of Tammany Hall
Tammany Hall
Tammany Hall, also known as the Society of St. Tammany, the Sons of St. Tammany, or the Columbian Order, was a New York political organization founded in 1786 and incorporated on May 12, 1789 as the Tammany Society...
. In 1863, Waterbury was appointed by Gov. Horatio Seymour
Horatio Seymour
Horatio Seymour was an American politician. He was the 18th Governor of New York from 1853 to 1854 and from 1863 to 1864. He was the Democratic Party nominee for president of the United States in the presidential election of 1868, but lost the election to Republican and former Union General of...
Judge Advocate General of the State Militia. In 1865, he resumed the practice of law.
Although Waterbury left Tammany Hall after William M. Tweed became the boss, he defended Tweed at his trial following the fall of the "Tweed Ring". After Tweed's fall, Waterbury returned to Tammany Hall, but left again in 1875 disagreeing with John Kelly
John Kelly (U.S. politician)
John Kelly of New York City, known as "Honest John", was a boss of Tammany Hall and a U.S. Representative from New York from 1855 to 1858-Career:...
. Waterbury returned to Tammany Hall in 1890, being an admirer of Richard Croker
Richard Croker
Richard Croker, Sr. was an American politician, a leader of New York City's Tammany Hall.-Biography:...
and Mayor Thomas F. Gilroy
Thomas F. Gilroy
Thomas Francis Gilroy , born in Ireland, was mayor of New York 1893-94 and Commissioner of Public works 1889-93. He was also a member of Tammany Hall. He had a daughter, Frances E. Gilroy, who married Edward A. Maher, Jr...
.
He died of pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
at his residence at 13 West 56th Street in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
.
Further reading
- The New York Civil List compiled by Franklin Benjamin Hough, Stephen C. Hutchins and Edgar Albert Werner (1867; pages 401 and 531) [gives wrong year of election "1859" for Waterbury's successor Hall]
- The New York State Register for 1845 edited by Orville L. HolleyOrville L. HolleyOrville Luther Holley was an American writer, newspaper editor, historian and politician.-Life:...
(page 394) - JOHN KELLY VS. NELSON J. WATERBURY in NYT on March 7, 1875
- Obit of Nancy Gibson Waterbury, in NYT on March 16, 1897