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Francis Bloodgood

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Francis Bloodgood
Francis Bloodgood around 1810, attributed to Ezra Ames
Mayor of Albany, New York
In office
1831–1831
Preceded byJohn Townsend
Succeeded byJohn Townsend
Mayor of Albany, New York
In office
1833–1833
Preceded byJohn Townsend
Succeeded byErastus Corning
Personal details
Born(1775-06-12)June 12, 1775
Albany, Province of New York
DiedMarch 5, 1840(1840-03-05) (aged 64)
NationalityAmerican
OccupationLawyer
Known forMayor of Albany

Francis Bloodgood (June 12, 1775[a] - March 5, 1840) was an American lawyer who was mayor of Albany, New York, in 1831 and 1833.

Early years

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Francis Bloodgood was born on June 12, 1775, in Albany, the son of James and Lydia Van Valkenburgh Bloodgood. His great-grandfather was Francis Bloetgoet of Flushing, Long Island. His father was a merchant who was involved in the West Indian trade.[1] He studied law at Yale University.[1] His uncle was Elisha Jenkins, who was three times Secretary of State of New York, and was mayor of Albany from 1816 to 1819.[citation needed]

Bloodgood established a law firm in Albany in the State Hall on State Street.[3] He became Director and President of the State Bank and President of the Albany Insurance Company.[1] He was a trustee of the Albany Presbyterian Church. Bloodgood married Elizabeth Cobham in 1792. In 1800 his household had seven family members and four slaves. From 1797 to 1825 he was clerk of the New York Supreme Court.[3]

Politics

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Bloodgood was involved in a street brawl in April 1807 over a political dispute.[3] After Elisha Jenkins had passed a resolution questioning Solomon Van Rensselaer's honesty, the two men came to blows.[citation needed] Witnesses said that Bloodgood then struck Van Rensselaer on the head with a large cane.[4] He later paid damages to Solomon Van Rensselaer for injuries received in the brawl.[3]

Bloodgood's first wife died on November 13, 1818, aged fifty, and was buried in the Presbyterian burial ground.[2] He may have then married Caroline Whistler. In December 1830 he was elected mayor of Albany.[3] Francis Bloodgood entered office in 1831 and paid all the debts of those in debtors' prison on the occasion of his swearing in.[5] A City Hall was erected on Eagle Street, between Maiden Lane and Pine Street, the location of the current City Hall, made of marble and capped by a gilded dome. John Townsend returned as mayor in 1832.[6] In 1833 Francis Bloodgood became mayor for the second time.[7]

Death

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Francis Bloodgood died on March 5, 1840, aged 71. He was also buried in the Presbyterian burial ground.[2] At the time of his death he was married to Anna Shoemaker (born March 27, 1777), from a Philadelphia Quaker family, the widow of Robert Morris Jr.[8] His wife lived on until March 5, 1865, when she died in Philadelphia. His son was Major William Bloodgood [1801-1874], father of Captain Edward Bloodgood (38th US Infantry), who reportedly died at Fort Larned, Kansas on July 31, 1867.[1][9] In fact this report was in error-Edward Bloodgood was a Brevet Lt Col/Captain 38th US Infantry Regiment In command of Fort Seldon, New Mexico in 1868 [10] and died in 1914.[11]

Notes and references

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Notes

  1. ^ The Bi-centennial History of Albany (1886) gives his birthdate as 12 June 1775.[1] The 1852 Annals of Albany says his gravestone gave an age of 71, implying birth around 1769.[2]

Citations

  1. ^ a b c d e Howell & Tenney 1886, p. 664.
  2. ^ a b c Munsell 1852, p. 230.
  3. ^ a b c d e Bielinski 2003.
  4. ^ Van Rensselaer & Jenkins 1808, p. 22.
  5. ^ Reynolds 1906, p. 497.
  6. ^ Reynolds 1906, p. 492.
  7. ^ Reynolds 1906, p. 526.
  8. ^ Jordan 2004, p. 447.
  9. ^ Chicago tribune. [volume], August 07, 1867, Image 1
  10. ^ Annual report of the Secretary of War 1868 p.732
  11. ^ Edward Bloodgood 1831-1914 Find a grave

Sources

  • Bielinski, Stefan (2003). "Francis Bloodgood". Retrieved 2013-01-03.
  • Howell, George Rogers; Tenney, Jonathan (1886). Bi-centennial History of Albany: History of the County of Albany, N.Y., from 1609 to 1886. W. W. Munsell & Company. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
  • Jordan, John W. (2004-05-30). Colonial And Revolutionary Families Of Pennsylvania. Genealogical Publishing Com. ISBN 978-0-8063-5239-8. Retrieved 2013-01-03.
  • Munsell, Joel (1852). The Annals of Albany. J. Munsell. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
  • Reynolds, Cuyler (1906). Albany Chronicles. J. B. Lyon Company, printers. p. 497. Retrieved 2009-01-18.
  • Van Rensselaer, Solomon Van Vechten; Jenkins, Elisha (1808). Assault and battery: report of the trials of the causes of Elisha Jenkins vs. Solomon Van Rensselaer, Solomon Van Rensselaer v. John Tayler, the same vs. Charles D. Cooper, and the same vs. Francis Bloodgood : before arbitrators, at Albany, August 16th, 17th and 18th, 1808. Croswell & Frary. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
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