Nathaniel Silsbee

Nathaniel Silsbee (January 14, 1773 – July 14, 1850) was an American politician from Massachusetts.

Silsbee was born in Salem, Massachusetts to Capt. Nathanial Silsbee and Sarah Beckett. On December 12, 1802 Silsbee married Mary Crowinishield.

Silsbee went to sea and became a sea captain, ship owner and merchant; he held several local offices in Salem and Boston.

Political career

United States House of Representatives

Silsbee was elected to the United States House of Representatives (March 4, 1817 – March 4, 1821). He was chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Military Pensions in the Twenty-first Congress. He declined to be a candidate for renomination in 1820.

Massachusetts government

He was a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1821 and the Massachusetts Senate (1823–1825), serving as president. He was a presidential elector in 1824.

United States Senate

He was elected to the United States Senate in 1826 to fill the vacancy in the term ending March 4, 1829, caused by the resignation of James Lloyd. He was re-elected in 1829 and served from May 31, 1826 to March 4, 1835. He was chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce in the Twenty-third Congress. He was a Whig presidential elector in 1836.