Josiah Carter

Josiah Mason Carter (June 19, 1813 – March 21, 1868) was a Whig member of the Connecticut House of Representatives representing Norwalk, Connecticut in 1857 and 1861 to 1862. He served as speaker of the Connecticut House in 1862.

Josiah Mason Carter
Speaker of the Connecticut House of Representatives[1]
In office 1862–1863[2][1]
Preceded by	Augustus Brandegee
Succeeded by	Chauncey Fitch Cleveland
Member of the Connecticut House of Representatives from Norwalk
In office 1857–1858[2][1]
Preceded by	Asa Hill, Daniel Nash
Succeeded by	Daniel Nash, A. Homer Byington
In office 1861–1863[2][1]
Preceded by	William Craw, Samuel Olmsted
Succeeded by	William C. Street, Joseph H. Cummings
Personal details
Born	(1813-06-19)June 19, 1813[3][2] New Canaan, Connecticut, US[3][2]
Died	March 21, 1868(1868-03-21) (aged 54)[3][2] Norwalk, Connecticut, US[3][2]
Political party	Whig, Republican
Residence(s)	Norwalk, Connecticut, US[3][2]
Alma mater	Yale College (1836)[2]
Occupation	lawyer

Early life and family

Cater was born in New Canaan on June 19, 1813.^[3][2] He graduated at Yale College in the year of 1836.^[3][2] He studied law with Thomas B. Osborne in Fairfield, and was admitted to the Fairfield County bar in August 1839.^[3][2] He practiced law in New York City in 1841.^[3][2] He was married the same year.^[3][2]

In 1847, he moved to Norwalk, and formed a law partnership with Thomas B. Butler, who was later appointed to the Connecticut Supreme Court.^[3][2] He continued in the partnership until 1855.^[3][2]

He was a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives in the years 1850, 1861 and 1862, and the last year was Speaker of the House.^[3][2]

He was the candidate of the Whig Party for the office of Lieutenant Governor in 1856.^[3][2]

He was appointed State Attorney for Fairfield County in 1862 and held the office until his death.^[3][2]

On two occasions he declined to be a candidate for a judgeship in the Superior Court, when it was urged upon him by his political friends then in power.^[3][2]

He died in Norwalk on March 21, 1868.^[3][2]