George Washington Wright

George Washington Wright (June 4, 1816 – April 7, 1885) was a Californian politician. He was the leading vote getter in a November 1849 at-large election for California's two seats in the United States House of Representatives following California's admission to the Union. He served a partial term in the 31st United States Congress (1850-1851).

For other people named George Washington, see George Washington (name).
George Washington Wright
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from California's at-large district
In office
September 11, 1850 – March 3, 1851
Preceded byEstablished
Succeeded byEdward C. Marshall
Personal details
Born(1816-06-04)June 4, 1816
Concord, Massachusetts
DiedApril 7, 1885(1885-04-07) (aged 68)
Dorchester, Massachusetts
Resting placeSleepy Hollow Cemetery,
Concord, Massachusetts
Political partyRepublican (from 1856)
Spouse(s)Mary G. Swain (m. 1844-1877, her death)
Children2
OccupationBusinessman
Attorney
Inventor

Biography

Wright was born in Concord, Massachusetts, on June 4, 1816,[1] a son of Edward and Mary Wright.[2] He was educated in Concord and in 1835 began to work in the business department of the Boston Courier newspaper.[1] He later became a merchant, and in 1849 moved to San Francisco, California, where he continued his mercantile career and expanded into banking and mining.[1] He was one of the founders of a bank, San Francisco's Palmer, Cook & Co.[1]

In September 1850, California attained admission to the Union. Wright won election as an independent to one of the new state's two at-large seats in the U.S. House and served a partial term, September 11, 1850, to March 3, 1851.[3] He declined to run for a full term and resumed his business interests.[1] He then studied law and attained admission to the bar.

An ally of John C. Frémont from their time in California, in 1856 Wright joined the new Republican Party and supported Frémont for president.[1] An inventor who worked on improvements to steam engines, during the American Civil War, Wright resided in Buffalo, New York, where he took part in construction of a ship for the United States Revenue Cutter Service, the USRC Commodore Perry.[1]

Wright later moved to Washington, D.C., where he served as an attorney representing the interests of the Choctaw American Indian tribe.[1] During the administration of President Andrew Johnson, Wright declined Johnson's appointment as United States Secretary of the Interior.[1]

Retirement and death

In 1880, Wright retired to Dorchester, Massachusetts.[1] He died in Dorchester on April 7, 1885 and was buried at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Concord, Massachusetts.[1]

Family

In 1844, Wright married Mary G. Swain of Nantucket, Massachusetts.[4] They were the parents of a son, William (1849-1849) and a daughter, Emma (1847-1900), the wife of Charles A. Hinckley of Boston.

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References
  1. United States Congress (1971). Biographical Directory of the American Congress 1774-1971. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office. p. 1960 – via Google Books.
  2. "Massachusetts Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988, Birth Entry for George Wright". Ancestry.com. Lehi, UT: Ancestry.com, LLC. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
  3. "The Admission of California into the Union". The United States House of Representatives. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  4. "Massachusetts Compiled Birth, Marriage, and Death Records, 1700-1850, Entry for George W. Wright and Mary G. Swain". Ancestry.com. Lehi, UT: Ancestry.com LLC. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
U.S. House of Representatives
New seat Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from California's at-large congressional district
1850–1851		 Succeeded by
Edward C. Marshall
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