Christopher Morgan (politician)

File:Christopher Morgan Auburn, New York.jpg

Christopher Morgan, Congressman from New York. He wore the eye patch after he lost his right eye in a hunting accident during his college years.

Christopher Morgan (June 4, 1808 – April 3, 1877) was a U.S. Representative from New York.

Born in Aurora, New York, Morgan pursued classical studies and was graduated from Yale College in 1830.

He began to study law with an attorney in Aurora, and completed his studies with Elijah Miller and William H. Seward in Auburn. Morgan was then admitted to the bar, and commenced practice in Aurora.

Morgan was elected as a Whig to the Twenty-sixth and Twenty-seventh Congresses (March 4, 1839 – March 3, 1843). He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1842 to the Twenty-eighth Congress.

He moved to Auburn in 1843 and practiced law with Seward and Samuel Blatchford as Morgan, Blatchford & Seward from 1844-1847. He was Secretary of State of New York from 1847–1851, Superintendent of the New York public schools from 1848-1852, and returned to private practice from 1852-1854.

He became a Republican at the party's organization in the mid-1850s. He served as mayor of Auburn in 1860 and 1862, and was a Trustee of the State lunatic asylum in Utica, New York.

He died in Auburn on April 3, 1877, and was interred in Fort Hill Cemetery.

Morgan was the brother of Edwin Barber Morgan and nephew of Noyes Barber.

Sources

• Christopher Morgan at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Christopher Morgan at Find a Grave

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by William H. Noble	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 24th congressional district 1839–1843	Succeeded by Horace Wheaton
Political offices
Preceded by Nathaniel S. Benton	New York Secretary of State 1848–1851	Succeeded by Henry S. Randall

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