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Edwin Albert Merritt

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Edwin Albert Merritt
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York
In office
November 5, 1912 – December 4, 1914
Preceded byGeorge R. Malby
Succeeded byBertrand Snell
Constituency26th district (1912–1913)
31st district (1913–1914)
Personal details
Born(1860-07-25)July 25, 1860
Pierrepont, New York
DiedDecember 4, 1914(1914-12-04) (aged 54)
Potsdam, New York
Resting placePierrepont Hill Cemetery
Political partyRepublican

Edwin Albert Merritt (July 25, 1860 – December 4, 1914) was an American politician from New York who served as a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1912 to 1914.

Biography

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He was born on July 25, 1860, in Pierrepont, St. Lawrence County, New York, the son of Edwin Atkins Merritt (1828–1916), and was known all his life as Edwin A. Merritt Jr. although father and son had different middle names.

Education

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Merritt Jr. graduated from Yale University in 1884. While at Yale, he was prominent among the undergraduate founders of the Wolf's Head Society, established in 1883 as The Third Society by the Phelps Trust Association. The society was founded with the aid of over 300 Yale alumni, including James Smith Bush, Charles Phelps Taft, Charles W. Harkness and William L. Harkness.

Political career

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Merritt was a member of the New York State Assembly (St. Lawrence Co., 2nd D.), serving in each consecutive legislative session from 1902 through 1912. He was Majority Leader from 1908 to 1910, Minority Leader in 1911, and Speaker in 1912.

He was an alternate delegate to the 1908 Republican National Convention, and a delegate to the 1912 Republican National Convention.

He was elected to the 62nd United States Congress, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of George R. Malby, and was elected at the same time to the 63rd United States Congress, holding office from November 5, 1912, until his death on December 4, 1914, in Potsdam, New York.

He was buried at Pierrepont Hill Cemetery in Pierrepont, N.Y.

See also

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Sources

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  • United States Congress. "Edwin Albert Merritt (id: M000660)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
  • Edwin A. Merritt, late a representative from New York, Memorial addresses delivered in the House of Representatives and Senate frontispiece 1915
New York State Assembly
Preceded by
Benjamin A. Babcock
New York State Assembly
St. Lawrence County, 2nd District

1902–1912
Succeeded by
John A. Smith
Preceded by Majority Leader of the New York State Assembly
1908–1910
Succeeded by
Preceded by Minority Leader in the New York State Assembly
1911
Succeeded by
Preceded by Speaker of the New York State Assembly
1912
Succeeded by
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 26th congressional district

1912–1913
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 31st congressional district

1913–1914
Succeeded by