Jump to content

Samuel Anderson (Pennsylvania politician)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Samuel Anderson
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Pennsylvania's 4th district
In office
March 4, 1827 – March 3, 1829
Preceded byJames Buchanan, Samuel Edwards, Charles Miner
Succeeded byJames Buchanan, Joshua Evans, Jr., George G. Leiper
Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
In office
1815–1818
1823–1825
1829–1835
Personal details
Born1773 (1773)
Middletown, Province of Pennsylvania, British America
DiedJanuary 17, 1850(1850-01-17) (aged 76–77)
Chester, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political partyAdams Party
Military service
Branch/serviceUnited States Navy,
Pennsylvania militia
RankSurgeon,
Lieutenant colonel

Samuel Anderson (1773 – January 17, 1850) was an American politician from Pennsylvania who served as an Adams Party member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 4th congressional district from 1827 to 1829. He served as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1815 to 1818 and again from 1823 to 1825.

During the War of 1812, Anderson raised a group of volunteers known as the Mifflin Guards and served as captain. He continued to serve in the Pennsylvania militia and was promoted to lieutenant colonel in 1821.

Early life and education

[edit]

Samuel Anderson was born in Middletown in the Province of Pennsylvania[1] to Reverend James and Margaret (McDowell) Anderson.[2] He studied medicine and was admitted to practice in 1796.

Military career

[edit]

In July 1799, he was appointed by President John Adams as surgeon's mate in the U.S. Navy. A month later, he was commissioned surgeon and assigned to duty under Captain David Porter, who was a personal friend of the doctor.[2] He resigned his commission and in 1801 settled in Chester, Pennsylvania, where he continued the practice of medicine.

During the War of 1812, Anderson raised a group of volunteers known as the Mifflin Guards. He was commissioned captain on September 10, 1814[3] and served for three months at Fort DuPont.[4] He served in the Pennsylvania Militia and was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel in the One Hundredth Regiment, Second Brigade, Third Division, on August 3, 1821.[5]

In 1823, Anderson was recalled to active duty in the Navy and was assigned to the West Indies Squadron commanded by Commodore Porter. In 1824, he was surgeon on the USS Hornet and later the same year on the USS Decoy stationed at Matanzas, Cuba.[2]

Political career

[edit]

Anderson was elected as a Federalist member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1815 to 1818 and 1823 to 1825.[1] He served as sheriff of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, from 1819 to 1823.[6]

In 1827, Anderson was elected to the Twentieth Congress to represent Pennsylvania's 4th congressional district and served until 1829.[7]

He was reelected as a Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1829 to 1830. He was reelected as a Republican member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1831 and served until 1835.[8]

In 1832, Anderson was elected as the 60th Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. During his Speakership, he signed important bills on road construction as well as canal and railroad incorporation and regulation.[8]

In 1840, Anderson was appointed Inspector of Customs at the Lazaretto in Tinicum Township, Pennsylvania and served until 1845.[2] He was elected justice of the peace in 1846 and served until his death in 1850.

Personal life

[edit]

In 1802, Anderson married Sarah Richards and together they had six children.[8]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "ANDERSON, Samuel". www.bioguide.congress.gov. Retrieved September 17, 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d Ashmead, Henry Graham (1914). History of the Delaware County National Bank. Chester, Pennsylvania: Press of the Chester Times. p. 120. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
  3. ^ Ashmead, Henry Graham (1883). Historical Sketch of Chester, on Delaware. Chester, Pennsylvania: Republican Steam Printing House. p. 210. Retrieved September 16, 2018. samuel anderson.
  4. ^ Jordan, John W. (1914). A History of Delaware County, Pennsylvania and Its People. New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company. p. 506. Retrieved September 17, 2018.
  5. ^ Who Was Who in American History - the Military. Chicago: Marquis Who's Who. 1975. p. 11. ISBN 0837932017.
  6. ^ "Delaware County Sheriff's - 1789 to present". www.co.delaware.pa.us. Retrieved September 21, 2018.
  7. ^ Jordan, John W. (1914). A History of Delaware County, Pennsylvania and Its People. New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company. p. 518. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
  8. ^ a b c "Samuel Anderson". www.legis.state.pa.us. Retrieved September 17, 2018.
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Pennsylvania's 4th congressional district

1827–1829
alongside:
James Buchanan and Charles Miner
Succeeded by