Charles_G._Ferris

Charles G. Ferris

Charles G. Ferris

American politician (1796–1848)

Charles Goadsby Ferris (ca. 1796 – June 4, 1848) was an American lawyer and politician who served as a U.S. Representative from New York, serving two non-consecutive terms from 1834 to 1835, then again from 1841 to 1843.

Quick Facts Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 3rd district, Preceded by ...

Early life

Ferris was born at "The Homestead" in Throggs Neck, a neighborhood in the Bronx.[1] His father, Edward Ferris, was long an Inspector of Flour in New York and one of the founders of the Tammany Society who made a large fortune, which he left to his children, including Charles and his brother, Floyd T. Ferris, a physician.[2] His mother was Elizabeth Goadsby (d. 1825), daughter of Sir Thomas Goadsby of England. His sister, Caroline Adelia Ferris, was married to Captain John W. Richardson.[1]

He received a limited education and then studied law.[3] In 1816, he received a Master of Arts degree from Columbia University.[4]

Career

After being admitted to the bar, practiced in New York City. He served as member of the New York City Board of Aldermen in 1832 and 1833.[3]

Tenure in Congress

Ferris was elected as a Jacksonian to the Twenty-third Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Dudley Selden and served from December 1, 1834, to March 3, 1835.[3] Reportedly, Ferris introduced Napoleon III to Tyler during Napoleon's tour of New York in 1837.[1]

Ferris was elected as a Democrat to the Twenty-seventh Congress serving from March 4, 1841 until March 3, 1843. He was largely instrumental in securing an appropriation through Congress to build the first telegraph line.[3]

Later career

After he left Congress, he was appointed as Collector of the Port of New York by President John Tyler but his nomination was rejected by the U.S. Senate and Cornelius P. Van Ness served instead.[5] In 1845, he was reportedly worth $200,000 (~$6.22 million in 2023).[2]

Personal life

Ferris was married to Catherine Youngs. Together, they were the parents of one daughter, named after his only sister:[1]

  • Caroline Adelia Ferris, who married Glover Clapham in 1850.[6] After his death, she remarried to Samuel Lewis.[1]

Death

Ferris died in New York City on June 4, 1848.[3]

References

  1. [1]
    Crowell, Charles Edward (1899). Partial Genealogy of the Ferris family. Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey: C. E. Crowell and A. Rasines. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  2. [2]
    Beach, Moses Yale (1845). Wealth and Biography of the Wealthy Citizens of New York City: Comprising an Alphabetical Arrangement of Persons Estimated to be Worth $100,000, and Upwards : with the Sums Appended to Each Name : Being Useful to Banks, Merchants, and Others ... Sun Office. p. 34. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  3. [3]
    "FERRIS, Charles Goadsby - Biographical Information". bioguide.congress.gov. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  4. [4]
    "The Honorable Congressman Ferris – Leaves From the Ferris Family Tree". www.ferrisfamily.us. Archived from the original on August 15, 2018. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  5. [5]
    "NEW-YORK'S CUSTOMS OFFICERS.; THE COLLECTORS, NAVAL OFFICERS, AND SURVEYORS SINCE THE FOUNDATION OF THE GOVERNMENT". The New York Times. July 20, 1878. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
  6. [6]
    Index to Marriages and Deaths in the New York Herald: 1835-1855. Genealogical Publishing Com. 1987. p. 177. ISBN 9780806311845. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
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