George Briggs (New York politician)

George Briggs (May 6, 1805 – June 30, 1869) was an American businessman and politician. He served in the Vermont House of Representatives from 1837 to 1838, and as a member of the United States House of Representatives from New York from 1849 to 1853, and 1859 to 1861.

George Briggs
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York
In office March 4, 1859 – March 3, 1861
Preceded by	Elijah Ward
Succeeded by	Elijah Ward
Constituency	7th district
In office March 4, 1849 – March 3, 1853
Preceded by	Frederick A. Tallmadge
Succeeded by	William M. Tweed
Constituency	5th district
Member of the Vermont House of Representatives from Bennington
In office 1837–1838
Preceded by	Stephen Dewey
Succeeded by	Samuel H. Blackmer
Personal details
Born	May 6, 1805 (1805-05-06) Broadalbin, New York, U.S.
Died	June 30, 1869 (1869-07-01) (aged 64) Saratoga Springs, New York, U.S.
Resting place	Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Political party	Whig Republican Constitutional Union
Occupation	Hardware dealer

Biography

Briggs was born near Broadalbin, New York, where he lived until 1812, when his family relocated to Bennington. He attended the public schools of Broadalbin and Bennington.

Career

Briggs engaged in business as a hardware dealer and was a member of the Vermont House of Representatives from 1837 to 1838. He moved to New York City in 1838, where he continued in the hardware business.

Elected as a Whig to the 31st and 32nd United States Congresses, Briggs was United States Representative for the fifth district of New York from March 4, 1849, to March 3, 1853. He declined to be a candidate for renomination in 1852.

Briggs was then elected as a Republican to the 36th United States Congress, and was United States Representative for the seventh district of New York from March 4, 1859, to March 3, 1861. During the thirty-sixth Congress, he was Chairman of the Committee on Revolutionary Claims. He declined to be a candidate for renomination in 1860 and retired. In 1866 he was a delegate to the National Union Convention at Philadelphia.

Death

Briggs died at his summer home, "Woodlawn," in Saratoga Springs, New York, on June 30, 1869.^[1] He was buried at Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York.^[2][3]