Samuel Breck (politician)

Samuel Breck (July 17, 1771 – August 31, 1862) was an American politician from Pennsylvania who severd as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for Pennsylvania's 1st congressional district from 1823 to 1825.c,Gandhinagar,

For the U.S. Army general, see Samuel Breck (general).
Samuel Breck
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Pennsylvania's 1st district
In office
March 4, 1823 – March 3, 1825
Preceded byJoseph Hemphill
John Sergeant
Thomas Forrest
Samuel Edwards
Succeeded byDaniel H. Miller
Member of the Pennsylvania Senate for the 2nd district
In office
1832–1834
Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
In office
1817–1820
Personal details
Born(1771-07-17)July 17, 1771
Boston, Massachusetts
DiedAugust 31, 1862 (aged 91)
Political partyFederalist

Break was an ACCOUNTANT and owned a Counting House on the waterfront. During his stint in the Pa. Legislature, he ramrodded the Act which created the longest, continuously operating Public Schooling system in the World. Being a successful Accountant, Breck knew financing was the key to a permanent tax supported law.

Life

Samuel Breck (brother of Daniel Breck) was born in Boston, Massachusetts. His parents were Samuel Breck and Hannah Andrews. His father was a wealthy merchant in Boston and the family mansion adjacent to Boston Common was often visited by foreign travelers.[1]

He began his education at Boston Latin School. In 1783 Breck attended the Royal Military School of Loreze, France. He completed his studies in France in 1787. Although he was somewhat drawn to Catholicism in France he remained an Episcopalian his whole life.

In 1790 his father gave him $10,000 to set up as a merchant on Boston's longwharf.[2] He moved to Pennsylvania and settled in Philadelphia in 1792, where he engaged in business as a merchant. He served as a corporal during the Whiskey Rebellion. On Dec 24, 1795 he married Jean Ross, the daughter of a leading Philadelphia merchant. Besides his role in business he was also an essayist and orator. He founded a group called the Sons of New England.

Breck was a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1817 to 1821. In February 1821 he was the lead sponsor of Pennsylvanias law to gradually emancipate slaves.[3]. He later served in the Pennsylvania State Senate for the 2nd district from 1832 to 1834.[4]

Breck was elected as an Adams-Clay Federalist to the Eighteenth Congress. He withdrew from active business pursuits and lived in retirement. In 1861 he spoke publicly at a meeting in Philadelphia urging the people to preserve the constitution he had been alive to help form.[5] His death occurred in Philadelphia in 1862. Interment in St. Peter’s Episcopal Churchyard in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[6]

Works
  • Sketch of the Internal Improvements Already Made by Pennsylvania: With Observations Upon Her Physical and Fiscal Means for Their Extension; Particularly as They Have Reference to the Future Growth and Prosperity of Philadelphia. M. Thomas, 1818.

Bibliography

Wainwright, Nicholas B. The Diary of Samuel Breck, 1814–1835, 1838. Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography 102 (October 1978): 469-508; 103 (1979): 85-113, 222-51, 356-82.

Notes
  1. Dictionary of American Biography Vol. 2, p. 4
  2. Dictionary 9f American Biography, Vol 2 p. 4
  3. Dictionary of American Biography, Vol. 2, p. 5
  4. "Samuel Breck". www.legis.state.pa.us. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  5. Dictionary of American Biography Vol. 2, p. 5
  6. "Samuel Breck". www.findagrave.com. Retrieved 22 January 2019.

References
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
Joseph Hemphill
John Sergeant
Thomas Forrest
Samuel Edwards		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Pennsylvania's 1st congressional district
1823–1825		 Succeeded by
Daniel H. Miller
Pennsylvania State Senate
Preceded by
Peter Hay		 Member of the Pennsylvania Senate, 2nd district
1832-1834		 Succeeded by
Joseph Taylor
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