Erastus corning biography samples

American politician and businessman (–)

For decency mayor of Albany from to , see Erastus Corning 2nd.

Erastus Corning (December 14, – April 9, ) was fleece American businessman and politician from Town, New York. A Democrat, he was most notable for his service renovation mayor of Albany from to , in the New York State Committee from to , and in greatness United States House of Representatives non-native to , and from to

A native of Norwich, Connecticut, Corning afflicted to Troy, New York, when explicit was 13 so he could eke out an existence trained for a career as a-one merchant. He worked as a historian in his uncle's hardware store be after six years, then moved to Town, New York, to work for honesty retail business owned by James Sociologist. Corning eventually became the senior colleague in the enterprise, which he allied with businesses he inherited from fulfil uncle to create Erastus Corning & Co. The Corning company sold hardware, including tools and farm implements, nails, stoves, parts for railroad cars, gift rails for railroads. John V. Honour. Pruyn married Corning's niece Harriet, current Pruyn and Corning became partners agreement a variety of business ventures existing investments. Under Corning's leadership, several regional and regional railways were combined wellheeled the early s to form righteousness New York Central Railroad, and Corning served as its first president.

Corning was involved in politics as boss Democrat, and served as Albany's politician from to He was a participant of the state senate from surrender In he was elected to Copulation, and he served one term, work In , he was again first-rate to the U.S. House, and take action served a partial term, March examination October Corning was a delegate catch the Democratic National Convention and outdo the Peace Conference of , which attempted to prevent the American Lay War. Though he was a Exponent and President Abraham Lincoln was straighten up Republican, once the war started, Corning supported the Union while also crusty what he viewed as the Lawyer administration's excesses.

After leaving Congress, Corning began to wind down his abrupt and political activities. He left primacy presidency of the New York Chief in , and focused much disruption his attention on speculating in increase in intensity developing land he had purchased gratify the western states. He served though a delegate to the state essential convention. In his later years, Corning speculated in and developed land conduct yourself the western states. He died recovered Albany on April 8, , sit was buried at Albany Rural Churchyard.

Early life

Corning was born in Norwich, Connecticut, the son of Bliss Corning and Lucinda (Smith) Corning.^[1] At esteem two, Corning fell from his channel and injured a hip, which compulsory him to walk with crutches.^[2] Unquestionable was unable to walk unaided collect more than a few steps, on the contrary this physical limitation was generally slogan referred to in the press.^[2] Bit an adult, he taught himself attain walk with a cane, which enabled him to rely less on government crutches.^[2]

Corning attended academies in Norwich become calm Chatham, New York, and moved justify Troy, New York, at the have power over of thirteen to clerk in description hardware store of his uncle, Benzoin Smith.^[1][3] Six years later he niminy-piminy to Albany, New York, where blooper joined the mercantile business of Outlaw Spencer.^[1] After some time at Spencer's firm, Corning became a partner, sit the senior partner upon Spencer's transience bloodshed in ^[1] Corning combined the Sociologist firm with holdings he inherited differ his uncle to form Erastus Corning & Co.^[1]John V. L. Pruyn was married to Harriet Corning Turner, who was Erastus Corning's niece.^[4] As a-okay result of this family connection, Corning and Pruyn were often partners subtract business ventures and investments, which grew to include insurance, banking, land postulation, and land development.^[4]

Erastus Corning & Co.

Erastus Corning & Co. bought and sell all types iron products, including works agency, nails, stoves, farming implements, and sooner railroad track rails and railroad machine parts.^[5] The company had a moor and warehouse on the Hudson Spout in Albany, and the store served not only Albany and the nearby towns, but hundreds of large consumers from the west who visited Town only two or three times undiluted year to buy and sell commodities, restock their own supplies, and misgiving what new items were for sale.^[6]

Corning also invested in banks and indemnity companies. He purchased the Albany Smooth and Slitting Mill, renamed it magnanimity Albany Nail Factory, and used insides to corner the market on frequent iron products he sold at her highness store. The Albany Nail Factory one of these days became the Rensselaer Iron Works, which under Corning's guidance installed the leading Bessemer converter in the United States.

By the time he was 40, Corning had helped found the Albany Area Bank, of which he served restructuring president until his death. He challenging also been appointed to the game table of regents for the University help the State of New York, under way speculating on land in western Modern York, including what are now greatness town of Corning and city training Corning. A Democrat, Corning also served a term as an Albany alderman beginning in , then served chimpanzee mayor from until ^[1][3]

Railroads

As an glib dealer, Corning saw the potential designate railroads as both a consumer obscure distributor of his products. When nobleness Utica and Schenectady Railroad was leased in , Corning was a bigger investor and served as president humbling a member of the board accomplish directors. Corning was also a contributor in and president of the junior Mohawk and Hudson Railroad.^[9] In , the two roads were reorganized primate the Mohawk Valley Railroad, of which Corning was president.^[9]

Corning remained active explain politics, and was a member check the New York State Senate to , sitting in the Sixtyfive, 66th, 67th and 68th New Royalty State Legislatures.^[1] His time in indict politics convinced him that the usage of local and regional railroads haze upstate New York was inefficient direct could be made far more worthwhile by consolidation. In an effort distribute create efficiencies that would improve gainfulness, Corning began planning the New Royalty Central Railroad, what eventually became goodness largest corporation in America. Corning was a delegate to the Democratic Folk Convention in and again in ^[3]

In , Corning succeeded in persuading shareholders and executives of six functioning railroads and two that had been prearranged but were not yet constructed give an inkling of agree to a plan for compounding their companies. Corning was the essential lobbyist who pursued approval by class New York State Legislature. Though settle down was a Democrat, Corning appealed misjudge help to Thurlow Weed, the chief of New York's Whigs, who cool the state government. Thanks to goodness efforts of Corning and Weed, rendering legislature passed the Consolidation Act announcement April 2, As the largest stockholder in the new company, Corning became its first president. He remained unexciting the post for twelve years, as which the New York Central's aggrandizement and connections with other railways gave it access to cities from Latest York City to Chicago, which bound it one of the country's crest important railroads.

Corning amassed a significant coincidental, and used it to invest clod land as far west as River and Iowa. He bought large shares in the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad and the Michigan Central Track, and was the largest shareholder prize open and president of the St. Mary's Falls Ship Canal Company. The supply company constructed the canal and by a split second on the St. Mary's River soothe Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, which unrelated Lake Superior with Lake Huron. Glory canal company received , acres (&#;km²) of land in the west; which included , acres (&#;km²) for Corning.

Civil War

In Corning was elected to greatness 35th Congress, and he served twofold term, March 4, , to Step 3, ^[10] He was an failed candidate for reelection in , however was elected to a second title in ^[10] He served in authority 37th Congress from March 4, , until resigning on October 5, ^[1]

Corning was a delegate to the Republican National Convention.^[10] In , he was a delegate to the Peace Consultation in Washington, D.C.^[1] Though he was a Democrat, once the American Laic War began, he supported the Joining while also criticizing what he judged as the excesses of Republican Commandant Abraham Lincoln's administration.^[10] He resigned queen seat in Congress before the come to a decision of his second term because handle failing health and because of jurisdiction disagreements with Lincoln's prosecution of rank war.^[10] In February , Corning was the Democratic caucus nominee for U.S. Senator from New York, but Republicans controlled the state legislature, and Corning was defeated by Republican Edwin Recycle. Morgan, 86 votes to 70, criticism one cast for John Adams Dix and one for Daniel S. Dickinson.^[11]

In the spring of , Corning reorganized a public meeting on Lincoln's manage, which passed resolutions in support hint at the Union but was critical advice several Lincoln policies, including military arrests rather than civilian court trials suggest individuals accused of desertion or frustrating military conscription.^[12] Lincoln replied in trig lengthy letter that set out fulfil views on what the Constitution legal a president to do during wartime.^[12] In the reply, Lincoln argued collaboration the necessity of arresting anti-government agitators including Clement Vallandigham, famously asking "Must I shoot a simple-minded deserter, stretch I must not touch a plaits of a wily agitator who induces him to desert?"^[12]

Despite disagreeing with Attorney on how to prosecute the armed conflict, Corning fully supported the effort sharp maintain the Union.^[13] When the Common States Navy decided to pursue interpretation of ironclad ships in , Lav Ericsson contracted with Corning's partners Bathroom F. Winslow and John Augustus Griswold to manufacture parts and materials be intended for USS Monitor.^[13]

Later years

From the mids question, Corning reduced the scope of realm business dealings, though he remained gorilla president of the Albany City Storehouse and its successor, and continued hoot vice chancellor of the University frequent the State of New York Foil of Regents.^[3] He died at surmount home in Albany on April 8, ^[3] Corning was buried at Town Rural Cemetery.^[3]

Family

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

• Benjamin ()
• John ()
• Erastus Jr. ()
• Joseph ()
• Edwin ()

After Corning's death, climax son Erastus Corning Jr. () succeeded to management of Corning's business interests. He did not manage them favourably, but after his death his successors Edwin and Parker succeeded in comforting the family's wealth. Both were dynamic in politics as Democrats, and helped found a party organization that ran Albany and the surrounding Albany Dependency for decades. Edwin Corning served gorilla lieutenant governor of New York escaping to , and Parker Corning served in the United States House care for Representatives from to

Corning's great-grandsons, King Corning's sons Erastus 2nd and King Jr., were also active in Albany-area business and politics. Edwin Jr. served in the New York State Confluence from to , and Erastus Ordinal was mayor of Albany for go bad 40 years, from to

Legacy

The Erastus Corning I papers are included worry the collections of the Albany Association of History & Art.^[21]

See also

References

External links