Thomas G. Alvord
Encyclopedia
Thomas Gold Alvord was an American lawyer, merchant and politician. Throughout his political career he was known as "Old Salt".
. He graduated from Yale College
in 1828. Then he studied law with Thomas A. Tomlinson
and George A. Simmons
at Keeseville, New York
, was admitted to the bar in 1832, and commenced practice at Salina, New York
. In 1846, he became a lumber merchant.
He began his political career as a Democrat, joined the Free Soil Party
with Samuel J. Tilden
in 1848, and was elected to the Assembly term of 1858 as a Democrat. In 1861, after Fort Sumter
was fired on, he became a Union Democrat, chaired the Union Convention at Syracuse, was nominated to run for the Assembly, and was endorsed by the Republicans and elected without opposition. For the term of 1864, he was elected as a Republican, and henceforth remained a member of this party.
He was a member from Onondaga County of the New York State Assembly
from 1844 to 1853, 1858, 1861, 1864, from 1870 to 1872, and from 1875 to 1882. He was Speaker
in 1858, 1864 and 1879.
He was Lieutenant Governor of New York
from 1865 to 1866.
He was a delegate to the New York State Constitutional Conventions in 1867 and 1894, and was chosen vice president on both occasions.
He was buried at the Oakwood Cemetery in Syracuse, N.Y.
Life
In 1813, the family removed to Lansingburgh, New YorkLansingburgh, New York
Lansingburgh was the first chartered village in Rensselaer County, New York, USA and was settled around 1763. The name is from Abraham Lansing, an early settler, combined with the Scottish word burgh....
. He graduated from Yale College
Yale College
Yale College was the official name of Yale University from 1718 to 1887. The name now refers to the undergraduate part of the university. Each undergraduate student is assigned to one of 12 residential colleges.-Residential colleges:...
in 1828. Then he studied law with Thomas A. Tomlinson
Thomas A. Tomlinson
Thomas Ash Tomlinson was a U.S. Representative from New York.Born in New York City in March 1802, Tomlinson attended the schools of Champlain and Plattsburgh, New York.He studied law....
and George A. Simmons
George A. Simmons
George Abel Simmons was a U.S. Representative from New York.-Biography:Born in Lyme, New Hampshire, Simmons attended the district school. He was graduated from Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, in 1816. He moved to Lansingburgh, New York, and was principal of the local academy. He studied...
at Keeseville, New York
Keeseville, New York
Keeseville is a village in both Clinton County, New York and in Essex County, New York in the United States. The population was 1,815 at the 2010 census. The village is named after the Keese family....
, was admitted to the bar in 1832, and commenced practice at Salina, New York
Salina, New York
Salina is a town in Onondaga County, New York, United States. The population was 33,290 at the 2000 census. The name of the town is derived from the Latin word for "salt."...
. In 1846, he became a lumber merchant.
He began his political career as a Democrat, joined the Free Soil Party
Free Soil Party
The Free Soil Party was a short-lived political party in the United States active in the 1848 and 1852 presidential elections, and in some state elections. It was a third party and a single-issue party that largely appealed to and drew its greatest strength from New York State. The party leadership...
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...
in 1848, and was elected to the Assembly term of 1858 as a Democrat. In 1861, after Fort Sumter
Fort Sumter
Fort Sumter is a Third System masonry coastal fortification located in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina. The fort is best known as the site upon which the shots initiating the American Civil War were fired, at the Battle of Fort Sumter.- Construction :...
was fired on, he became a Union Democrat, chaired the Union Convention at Syracuse, was nominated to run for the Assembly, and was endorsed by the Republicans and elected without opposition. For the term of 1864, he was elected as a Republican, and henceforth remained a member of this party.
He was a member from Onondaga County 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 1844 to 1853, 1858, 1861, 1864, from 1870 to 1872, and from 1875 to 1882. He 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 1858, 1864 and 1879.
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...
from 1865 to 1866.
He was a delegate to the New York State Constitutional Conventions in 1867 and 1894, and was chosen vice president on both occasions.
He was buried at the Oakwood Cemetery in Syracuse, N.Y.
Sources
- http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/alt-amersoon.html Political Graveyard
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9503E0DC1630E033A2575BC0A9639C94659ED7CF&oref=slogin Republican caucus for presiding officers of State Constitutional Convention in 1894, with short bios, in NYT on May 8, 1894
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9A01EEDB1039E433A25754C2A9669D94669ED7CF Obit in NYT on October 27, 1897