Erastus Root

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Erastus Root (March 16, 1773 Hebron, then Windham County, now Tolland County, Connecticut - December 24, 1846 New York City) was an American lawyer and politician from New York.

[edit] Life

He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1793 and became a teacher. Then he studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1796, and commenced practice in Delhi, New York.

He was a member of the New York State Assembly from 1798 to 1802.

In 1802, he was elected as a Democratic-Republican in the 14th District to the 8th United States Congress, and served from March 4, 1803 to March 3, 1805. Afterwards he resumed his law practice.

In 1808, he was elected in the 12th District to the 11th United States Congress, and served from March 4, 1809 to March 3, 1811, and was chairman of the Committee on Claims.

He was a member from the Middle District of the New York State Senate from 1811 to 1815.

In 1815, he contested successfully the election of John Adams in the 8th District to the 14th United States Congress, and took his seat on December 26, 1815, served until March 3, 1817, and was chairman of the Committee on Expenditures in the War Department.

He was again a member of the State Assembly from 1818 to 1822, and was a delegate to the New York State Constitutional Convention of 1821.

He was Lieutenant Governor of New York under Joseph C. Yates (1823-1824), but was defeated when running for reelection on the ticket with Samuel Young.

He returned to the State Assembly again from 1826 to 1828, and in 1830, and was Speaker in 1827, 1828 and 1830.

In 1830, he was elected as a Jacksonian in the 11th District to the 22nd United States Congress, and served from March 4, 1831 to March 3, 1833, and was chairman of the Committee on Agriculture.

In 1838, this time as a Whig, he ran again for the House but was defeated.

He was again a member of the State Senate from 1840 to 1844.

He served for many years as Major-General of the New York State Militia.

He was originally buried at the Old Cemetery, but later re-interred at Woodland Cemetery, both in Delhi, N.Y.

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Political offices
Preceded by
John Tayler
Lieutenant Governor of New York
1823 - 1824
Succeeded by
James Tallmadge, Jr.
Preceded by
Samuel Young
Speaker of the New York State Assembly
1827–1828
Succeeded by
Peter Robinson
Preceded by
Peter Robinson
Speaker of the New York State Assembly
1830
Succeeded by
George R. Davis