Alexander Harper (Ohio politician)

Alexander Harper
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio's 12th district
In office March 4, 1837 – March 3, 1839
Preceded by	Elias Howell
Succeeded by	Jonathan Taylor
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio's 14th district
In office March 4, 1843 – March 3, 1847
Preceded by	George Sweeny
Succeeded by	Nathan Evans
In office March 4, 1851 – March 3, 1853
Preceded by	Nathan Evans
Succeeded by	Harvey H. Johnson
Member of the Ohio House of Representatives from Muskingum County
In office 1820–1822
Preceded by	Robert McConnell John Reynolds
Succeeded by	Nathan C. Findlay William H. Moore
Personal details
Born	(1786-02-05)February 5, 1786 Belfast, Ireland
Died	Zanesville, Ohio
Resting place	Greenwood Cemetery
Political party	Whig

Alexander Harper (February 5, 1786 – December 1, 1860) was a U.S. Representative from Ohio.

Born near Belfast, Ireland, Harper immigrated to the United States and settled in Zanesville, Ohio. He pursued preparatory studies, studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1813, and commenced practice in Zanesville. He served as member of the Ohio House of Representatives in 1820 and 1821. He served as president judge of the Court of Common Pleas 1822-1836.

Harper was elected as a Whig to the Twenty-fifth Congress (March 4, 1837 – March 3, 1839). He was later elected to the Twenty-eighth and Twenty-ninth Congresses (March 4, 1843 – March 3, 1847). He served as chairman of the Committee on Expenditures in the Post Office Department (Twenty-eighth Congress), and was on the Committee on Patents (Twenty-eighth Congress).

Harper was again elected to the Thirty-second Congress (March 4, 1851 – March 3, 1853). He resumed the practice of law. He died in Zanesville on December 1, 1860, and was interred in Greenwood Cemetery.

Sources

• Alexander Harper at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.