Elon Farnsworth (Michigan Attorney General)

Elon Farnsworth (February 2, 1799, Woodstock, Vermont – March 24, 1877, Detroit) was an American lawyer and politician. He served as both Attorney General and Chancellor of the state of Michigan.

This article is about the Michigan politician. For the Civil War general, see Elon J. Farnsworth.

Elon Farnsworth
1st and 3rd Chancellor of Michigan
In office 1846–1847
Preceded by	Randolph Manning
Succeeded by	Office abolished
In office 1836–1842
Preceded by	Office created
Succeeded by	Randolph Manning
4th Michigan Attorney General
In office 1843–1845
Governor	John S. Barry
Preceded by	Zephaniah Platt
Succeeded by	Henry N. Walker
Personal details
Born	(1799-02-02)February 2, 1799 Woodstock, Vermont
Died	March 24, 1877(1877-03-24) (aged 78) Detroit, Michigan
Resting place	Elmwood Cemetery, Detroit

Biography

Elon Farnsworth was born February 2, 1799, in Woodstock, Vermont. His father was a farmer and he was educated in the local schools. He moved to Detroit in 1822 and began studying law in the offices of Solomon Sibley, eventually taking over the business after Sibley was elevated to the bench and his other partner died. He later formed his own firm of Farnsworth & Bates with Asher B. Bates.

He was elected to the Legislative Council of Michigan Territory in 1834 and served one term. When the office of Chancellor was created by the new state constitution of 1835, Farnsworth was appointed to it, and served until 1843. He served briefly again between the 1846 resignation of Randolph Manning and the 1847 abolishment of the Court of Chancery.

He ran as the Democratic nominee for Governor of Michigan in 1839, losing to William Woodbridge. After resigning as Chancellor in 1843, Governor John S. Barry appointed Farnsworth as Attorney General, a position which he held for two years.

Farnsworth served several different terms on the Board of Regents of the University of Michigan. As Chancellor of the state, he was an ex officio regent from 1835 to 1843. He was appointed to the board by the Governor in 1846 and served in that capacity until 1852 (while simultaneously being an ex officio member as Chancellor from 1846-1847). When the Board of Regents became an elected body in 1852, he was elected to the board and served again until 1858. He was influential in the board's selection of Henry Philip Tappan as the first President of the University of Michigan.

He was a Director of the Michigan Central Railroad and President of the Detroit Savings Bank from 1849 until shortly before his death.

He died March 24, 1877, of complications from a long-term kidney disease and is buried at Elmwood Cemetery.

References

• Barnard, F. A. (1878), American Biographical History of Eminent and Self-made Men: Michigan Volume, Cincinnati: Western Biographical, OCLC 2988468

Party political offices
Preceded by Stevens T. Mason	Democratic nominee for Governor of Michigan 1839	Succeeded by John S. Barry
Legal offices
New title Office created	Chancellor of Michigan 1836–1843	Succeeded by Randolph Manning
Preceded by Zephaniah Platt	Michigan Attorney General 1843–1845	Succeeded by Henry N. Walker
Preceded by Randolph Manning	Chancellor of Michigan 1846–1847	Office abolished