Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 09.djvu/332

 SEYMOUR

SEYMOUR

Marcy, 1833-39; was a Democratic member of the state assembly, 1841-45, and speaker in 1845; mayor of Utica, 184'2-43; Democratic caiulidate for "governor of the sUite in 1850; was a delegate to the Democratic national convention held at Baltimore in 1852, and voted for William L. Mar- cy for President. He was elected governor of New York in 1852, defeating Gov. Washington Hunt by a large majority and was defeated in 1S54 by the Whig and Temperance candidate. Myron H. Clark. He was a delegate to the Democratic national con- vention held at Cincinnati in 1856. and voted for James Buchanan for President. Upon Buchanan's elec- tion he was offered a foreign mission, which he declined. He supported the administration in 18G1 and made many speeches in its behalf. He was re-elected governor of the state in 1863, and was conspicuous for his ability in raising troops, and for that service received the per- sonal thanks of President Lincoln. While the state troops were absent in Pennsylvania, the draft riots broke out in New York city, and Governor Seymour was successful in reducing tiie excessive number of men apportioned to New York, but the draft was begun Satur- day. July 11, 1863, and from Sunday till Thurs- day the city was at the mercy of the rioters, many lives were lost and millions of dollars worth of property was destroyed. Governor Seymour appearerl at the City Hall, Lssued a proclamation on Sunday, July 12, declaring the city to be in a state of insurrection and ordering all rioters to return to their homes and employment. He made numerous public speeches to the mob and was largely instrumental in subduing the excite- ment. The state legislature passed a resolution, April 16. 18.54. thanking him for having procured a correction of the errors in regard to the draft. He was defeated for governor by Reuben E. Fen- ton in 1864, and in August, 1804, was president of the Democratic national convention held at Chicago, which nominated George B. McClellan for President. He was president of the state con- ' ventions of 1867 and 1868, and was chairman of the Democratic national convention of 1868, that met in Tammany Hall. New York city, and against his earnest protest he received the nom- ination from the convention for Democratic can- didate for the office of FYesident of the United States, with Frank P. Blair, Jr., for Vice-Pres- ident. The Grant and Colfax electors received a popular vote of 3,015,071, and the Seymour and Blair electors 2.709,615. and in 1869, on the meet- ing of the electoral collpge. the Tlepublican ticket received 274 and the Democratic ticket 80 elec-

toral votes. He declined a senatorship of New York and the nomination for governor in 1869. Having removed to Deerfield, N.Y,, in 1864, he thereafter engaged in farming. He was a com- missioner of state fisheries; a member of the state survey in 1876; presidential elector-at-large from New York on the Tilden and Hendricks ticket in 1876; i)resident of the board of commissioners of state survey in l.s78; president of the National Dairymen's association and of the American Pri- son association, and first president of the Oneida Historical societ3\ The lionorary degree of LL.D. was conferred on him by Norwich university in 1859, and by Union college in 1873. He died at the home of his sister, Julia Seymour Conkling, wife of Roscoe Conkling, former U.S. senator, in Utica, N.Y".. Feb. 12, 1886.

SEYMOUR, Mary Harrison (Browne), author, was born in Oxford, Conn., Sept. 7, 1835; daugh- ter of the Rev. Abraham and Lucy Maria (Har- rison) Browne; granddaughter of Abraham and Anna (Hale) Browne and of Simeon and Hannah (Farnum) Harrison. She attended the academies of Brooklyn, N.Y., and Baltimore, Md., and was married, June 20, 1861, to the Rev. Storrs O. Sey- mour of Litclifield, Conn. She contributed many stories to children's magazines and is the author of: Sunshine and Starlight (1869): Ned, Nellie and Amy (1870); Mollies Christmas Stockitig (is:':); Posy Vinton's Picnic (1877); Every Day (1877); Recompense (1881); Tlirough the Dark- ness (1893).

SEYMOUR, Origen Storrs, jurist, was born in Litchfield, Conn.. Feb. 9, 1804; son of Ozias and grandson of Major Moses Seymour. He was graduated from Y'ale college, A.B.. 1824, A.M., 1827, and was admitted to the bar in 1826. He was clerk of Litchfield county, 1836-44, a repre- sentative in the Connecticut legislature, 1842 and 1849-50; being speaker of the house in 1850, and was a Democratic representative in the 32d and 33d congresses, 1851-55. He was judge of the superior court of Connecticut, 1855-63; was the imsuccessful candidate of the Democratic party for governor of the state in 1864; was elected by the state legislature then controlled by the Republicans, a judge of the state supreme court, and in 1873 he succeeded as chief justice, re- tiring in 1874 having reached the age limit. He was chairman of the commission that settled the boundary between New York and Connecti- cut in 1876; was chairman of the commission tliat prepared the state practice act: was an an- nual lecturer at the Yale Law school, 1876-81; and was again elected a representative in the state legislature in 1881. The honorary degree of LL.D. was conferred on him by Trinity col- lege in 1866 and by Yale in 1873. He died in Litchfield, Conn., Aug. 12, 1881.