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Ransom H. Gillet

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Ransom H. Gillet
From 1878's History of Columbia County, New York
Member of the United States House of Representatives from New York's 14th congressional district
In office
March 4, 1833 – March 3, 1837
Preceded bySamuel Beardsley
Succeeded byJames B. Spencer
Solicitor of the United States Court of Claims
In office
April 26, 1858 – April 2, 1861
Preceded byMontgomery Blair
Succeeded byCharles Gibson
Assistant United States Attorney General
In office
1855–1858
Preceded byGeorge M. Bibb
Succeeded byAlfred B. McCalmont
Solicitor of the United States Treasury
In office
May 27, 1847 – October 30, 1849
Preceded bySeth Barton
Succeeded byJohn C. Clark
Register of the United States Treasury
In office
April 1, 1845 – June 3, 1847
Preceded byThomas L. Smith
Succeeded byDaniel Graham
Personal details
Born
Ransom Hooker Gillet

(1800-01-27)January 27, 1800
New Lebanon, New York, U.S.
DiedOctober 24, 1876(1876-10-24) (aged 76)
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Resting placeGlenwood Cemetery, Washington, D.C.
Political partyJacksonian (before 1832)
Democratic (from 1832)
SpouseEleanor C. Barhydt (m. 1825-1876, his death)
ProfessionAttorney
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
New York
Branch/serviceNew York State Militia
Years of service1827-1837
RankMajor
Unit49th Brigade

Ransom Hooker Gillet (January 27, 1800 – October 24, 1876) was an attorney and politician from New York. A Jacksonian and later a Democrat, he was most notable for his service in the United States House of Representatives from 1833 to 1837.

Biography

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Gillet was born in New Lebanon, New York on January 27, 1800, the son of John and Lucy Gillet.[1] He pursued an academic course, then studied law with Silas Wright in Canton, New York.[1]

He was admitted to the bar in 1822 and commenced practice in Ogdensburg, New York.[1] Active in the New York State Militia from 1827 to 1837, Gillet attained the rank major as inspector of the 49th Brigade.[1][2] From 1830 to 1833 Gillet served as Ogdensburg's postmaster.[1] He was a delegate to the 1832 Democratic National Convention.[1]

Congress

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Gillet was elected as a Jacksonian to the Twenty-third and Twenty-fourth Congresses (March 4, 1833 – March 3, 1837).[1] He was not a candidate for re-nomination in 1836.[1]

Federal appointments

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Gillet served as a federal commissioner to negotiate with New York's Indian tribes from 1837 to 1839.[1] He was a delegate to the 1840 Democratic National Convention.[1]

On April 1, 1845 Gillet was appointed Register of the United States Treasury and he served until May 27, 1847, when he was appointed Solicitor of the United States Treasury.[1] He continued as solicitor until October 31, 1849.[1] In 1855, Gillet was appointed Assistant United States Attorney General and he served from 1855 to 1858.[1] In 1858, he was appointed Solicitor of the U.S. Court of Claims, and he served until 1861.[1]

Retirement and death

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Gillet retired from public life in 1867 and authored several books, including a two-volume biography of Silas Wright.[1] He died in Washington, D.C., October 24, 1876.[1] He was interred in Glenwood Cemetery.[1]

Family

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In 1825, Gillet he married Eleanor C. Barhydt (1806-1881).[1] They were married until his death and were the parents of a son, Silas Wright Gillet (1829-1878).[3] Silas W. Gillet was a graduate of Georgetown University and served in the United States Marine Corps during the American Civil War.[3] He later resided in New Lebanon, where he served in local offices including town justice and school board member.[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r A. N. Marquis Company (1963). Who Was Who In America. Vol. 1607–1896. St. Louis, MO: Von Hoffman Press. pp. 204–205 – via Google Books.
  2. ^ Skinner, Roger Sherman (1830). The New-York State Register. New York, NY: Calyton & Van Norden. p. 354 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ a b c Fitch, Charles E. (1923). Encyclopedia of Biography of New York. Boston, MA: American Historical Society. p. 128 – via Internet Archive.
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Media related to Ransom H. Gillet at Wikimedia Commons

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 14th congressional district

March 4, 1833 – March 3, 1837
Succeeded by