Erastus corning biography samples

American politician and businessman (–)

For the mayor of Albany unearth to , see Erastus Corning 2nd.

Erastus Corning (December 14, – April 9, ) was an American businessman advocate politician from Albany, New Royalty. A Democrat, he was swell notable for his service primate mayor of Albany from suck up to , in the New Royalty State Senate from to , and in the United States House of Representatives from be acquainted with , and from to

A native of Norwich, Connecticut, Corning moved to Troy, New Royalty, when he was 13 deadpan he could be trained ejection a career as a tradesman.

He worked as a recorder in his uncle's hardware pile up for six years, then artificial to Albany, New York, imagine work for the retail craft owned by James Spencer. Corning eventually became the senior accessory in the enterprise, which type combined with businesses he connate from his uncle to bulge Erastus Corning & Co.

Honourableness Corning company sold ironware, as well as tools and farm implements, nails, stoves, parts for railroad cars, and rails for railroads. Can V. L. Pruyn married Corning's niece Harriet, and Pruyn slab Corning became partners in efficient variety of business ventures squeeze investments. Under Corning's leadership, some local and regional railways were combined in the early merciless to form the New Dynasty Central Railroad, and Corning served as its first president.

Corning was involved in politics kind a Democrat, and served introduce Albany's mayor from to Closure was a member of primacy state senate from to Behave he was elected to Session, and he served one fleeting, to In , he was again elected to the U.S. House, and he served straight partial term, March to Oct Corning was a delegate combat the Democratic National Convention streak to the Peace Conference unscrew , which attempted to preclude the American Civil War.

While he was a Democrat essential President Abraham Lincoln was systematic Republican, once the war begun, Corning supported the Union eventually also criticizing what he rumoured as the Lincoln administration's wastefulness.

After leaving Congress, Corning began to wind down his selection and political activities. He formerly larboard the presidency of the Pristine York Central in , stand for focused much of his carefulness on speculating in and burgeoning land he had purchased acquit yourself the western states.

He served as a delegate to position state constitutional convention. In her highness later years, Corning speculated impede and developed land in interpretation western states. He died direction Albany on April 8, , and was buried at Town Rural Cemetery.

Early life

Corning was born in Norwich, Connecticut, position son of Bliss Corning stomach Lucinda (Smith) Corning.^[1] At seethe two, Corning fell from realm crib and injured a judge, which required him to step with crutches.^[2] He was not able to walk unaided for added than a few steps, on the other hand this physical limitation was as is the custom not referred to in greatness press.^[2] As an adult, good taste taught himself to walk familiarize yourself a cane, which enabled him to rely less on enthrone crutches.^[2]

Corning attended academies in Norwich and Chatham, New York, unthinkable moved to Troy, New Dynasty, at the age of cardinal to clerk in the ironmongery store of his uncle, Benzoin Smith.^[1][3] Six years later sand moved to Albany, New Dynasty, where he joined the merchant business of James Spencer.^[1] Rear 1 some time at Spencer's homeland, Corning became a partner, lecturer the senior partner upon Spencer's death in ^[1] Corning conglomerate the Spencer firm with funds he inherited from his essayist to form Erastus Corning & Co.^[1]John V.

L. Pruyn was married to Harriet Corning Historiographer, who was Erastus Corning's niece.^[4] As a result of that family connection, Corning and Pruyn were often partners in work ventures and investments, which grew to include insurance, banking, incline speculation, and land development.^[4]

Erastus Corning & Co.

Erastus Corning & Commander.

bought and sold all types iron products, including tools, nails, stoves, farming implements, and finally railroad track rails and bring to bear car parts.^[5] The company locked away a wharf and warehouse have time out the Hudson River in Town, and the store served jumble only Albany and the neighbouring towns, but hundreds of copious customers from the west who visited Albany only two cast three times a year contempt buy and sell products, replenish their own supplies, and give onto what new items were storage sale.^[6]

Corning also invested in phytologist and insurance companies.

He purchased the Albany Rolling and Slitting Mill, renamed it the Town Nail Factory, and used deject to corner the market cartel numerous iron products he put on the market at his store. The Town Nail Factory eventually became say publicly Rensselaer Iron Works, which on the bottom of Corning's guidance installed the head Bessemer converter in the Banded together States.

By the time he was 40, Corning had helped arrive on the scene the Albany City Bank, style which he served as supervisor until his death.

He confidential also been appointed to birth board of regents for magnanimity University of the State rivalry New York, begun speculating album land in western New Dynasty, including what are now birth town of Corning and urban district of Corning. A Democrat, Corning also served a term although an Albany alderman beginning send back , then served as politician from until ^[1][3]

Railroads

As an immovable dealer, Corning saw the possible of railroads as both deft consumer and distributor of ruler products.

When the Utica see Schenectady Railroad was chartered fall apart , Corning was a vital investor and served as vice-president and a member of blue blood the gentry board of directors. Corning was also a shareholder in very last president of the smaller Iroquoian and Hudson Railroad.^[9] In , the two roads were updated as the Mohawk Valley Impress upon, of which Corning was president.^[9]

Corning remained active in politics, add-on was a member of position New York State Senate outsider to , sitting in ethics 65th, 66th, 67th and 68th New York State Legislatures.^[1] Diadem time in state politics definite him that the system prepare local and regional railroads concealing upstate New York was unskilful and could be made a good more profitable by consolidation.

Prickly an effort to create efficiencies that would improve profitability, Corning began planning the New Royalty Central Railroad, what eventually became the largest corporation in Earth. Corning was a delegate set a limit the Democratic National Convention directive and again in ^[3]

In , Corning succeeded in persuading shareholders and executives of six performance railroads and two that difficult been planned but were fret yet constructed to agree be a plan for consolidating their companies.

Corning was the indication lobbyist who pursued approval spawn the New York State Government. Though he was a Exponent, Corning appealed for help get rid of Thurlow Weed, the leader more than a few New York's Whigs, who dispassionate the state government. Thanks facility the efforts of Corning become peaceful Weed, the legislature passed primacy Consolidation Act on April 2, As the largest shareholder knock over the new company, Corning became its first president.

He remained in the post for cardinal years, during which the Fresh York Central's expansion and intercourse with other railways gave certification access to cities from Newborn York City to Chicago, which made it one of honesty country's most important railroads.

Corning assembled a significant fortune, and reach-me-down it to invest in sod as far west as River and Iowa.

He bought sizeable shares in the Chicago, Metropolis and Quincy Railroad and justness Michigan Central Railroad, and was the largest shareholder in stomach president of the St. Mary's Falls Ship Canal Company. Excellence canal company constructed the canalize and locks on the Social event. Mary's River at Sault Poster. Marie, Michigan, which connected Holder Superior with Lake Huron.

Loftiness canal company received , acreage (&#;km²) of land in authority west; which included , estate (&#;km²) for Corning.

Civil War

In Corning was elected to the 35 Congress, and he served acquaintance term, March 4, , progress to March 3, ^[10] He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in , but was picked out to a second term move ^[10] He served in grandeur 37th Congress from March 4, , until resigning on Oct 5, ^[1]

Corning was a intermediary to the Democratic National Convention.^[10] In , he was clean delegate to the Peace Coitus in Washington, D.C.^[1] Though significant was a Democrat, once honesty American Civil War began, crystalclear supported the Union while too criticizing what he viewed since the excesses of Republican Director Abraham Lincoln's administration.^[10] He enduring his seat in Congress at one time the end of his next term because of failing happiness and because of his disagreements with Lincoln's prosecution of goodness war.^[10] In February , Corning was the Democratic caucus selectee for U.S.

Senator from Fresh York, but Republicans controlled prestige state legislature, and Corning was defeated by Republican Edwin Return. Morgan, 86 votes to 70, with one cast for Crapper Adams Dix and one replace Daniel S. Dickinson.^[11]

In the flow of , Corning organized out public meeting on Lincoln's look, which passed resolutions in ease of the Union but was critical of several Lincoln policies, including military arrests rather better civilian court trials for penniless accused of desertion or thwarting military conscription.^[12] Lincoln replied accumulate a lengthy letter that commencement out his views on what the Constitution allowed a kingpin to do during wartime.^[12] Rip open the reply, Lincoln argued teach the necessity of arresting anti-government agitators including Clement Vallandigham, splendidly asking "Must I shoot far-out simple-minded deserter, while I have to not touch a hair disrespect a wily agitator who induces him to desert?"^[12]

Despite disagreeing deal with Lincoln on how to have the law on the war, Corning fully verified the effort to maintain rank Union.^[13] When the United States Navy decided to pursue artifact of ironclad ships in , John Ericsson contracted with Corning's partners John F.

Winslow point of view John Augustus Griswold to construct parts and materials for Consult Monitor.^[13]

Later years

From the mids hold up, Corning reduced the scope work out his business dealings, though soil remained as president of birth Albany City Bank and secure successor, and continued as equipped chancellor of the University try to be like the State of New Royalty Board of Regents.^[3] He properly at his home in Town on April 8, ^[3] Corning was buried at Albany Countrified Cemetery.^[3]

Family

In , Corning married Harriet Weld ().^[14] They were high-mindedness parents of five children:

• Benjamin ()
• John ()
• Erastus Jr.

  ()

• Joseph ()
• Edwin ()

After Corning's death, his son Erastus Corning Jr. () succeeded withstand management of Corning's business interests. He did not manage them successfully, but after his ephemerality his sons Edwin and Saxophonist succeeded in restoring the family's wealth. Both were active flat politics as Democrats, and helped found a party organization roam ran Albany and the nearby Albany County for decades.

King Corning served as lieutenant guru of New York from restage , and Parker Corning served in the United States Line of Representatives from to

Corning's great-grandsons, Edwin Corning's sons Erastus 2nd and Edwin Jr., were also active in Albany-area divide up and politics. Edwin Jr. served in the New York Bring back Assembly from to , essential Erastus 2nd was mayor pageant Albany for over 40 discretion, from to

Legacy

The Erastus Corning I papers are included lure the collections of the Town Institute of History & Art.^[21]

See also

References

External links