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James Watson (New York politician)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
James Watson
United States Senator
from New York
In office
August 17, 1798 – March 19, 1800
Preceded byWilliam North
Succeeded byGouverneur Morris
Personal details
Born(1750-04-06)April 6, 1750
Woodbury, Connecticut, British America
DiedMay 15, 1806(1806-05-15) (aged 56)
New York City, New York, U.S.
Political partyFederalist
Alma materYale College
ProfessionSoldier and Politician

James Watson (April 6, 1750 – May 15, 1806) was a United States Senator representing the state of New York.

Life

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Watson was born in Woodbury, Connecticut on April 6, 1750. He graduated from Yale College in 1776, and was commissioned a lieutenant in the Connecticut regiment. He retired as a captain in 1777 and studied law. Watson moved to New York City in 1786 and became a merchant at 44 Broad Street. He was a member of the New York State Assembly in 1791, 1794–1796 and was Speaker in 1794. He was a member of the New York State Senate (Southern District) from 1796 to 1798 and was a Regent of New York University from 1795 until his death.[1]

In 1798, Watson was elected as a Federalist to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of John Sloss Hobart and served in the 5th and 6th United States Congress from December 11, 1798, to March 19, 1800, when he resigned to accept an appointment by President John Adams as Naval Officer of the Port of New York.[1]

Watson was an unsuccessful candidate for Lieutenant Governor of New York in 1801. He was a member of the Society of the Cincinnati and an organizer and the first president of the New England Society of New York, from 1805 until his death.[1]

Watson’s townhouse, located at 7 State Street in New York City still stands and is on the National Register of Historic Places.[2] It was also the residence of Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first American Catholic Saint. The home is currently occupied by the rectory of the Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church and is part of the Seton Shrine.[3]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "James Watson Jr.", New York Society Library
  2. ^ "National Register of Historic Places". National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior. Archived from the original on 4 December 2010. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
  3. ^ "Seton Shrine Website". Archived from the original on 2012-03-19. Retrieved 2012-08-08.

Sources

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Political offices
Preceded by Speaker of the New York State Assembly
1794
Succeeded by
U.S. Senate
Preceded by U.S. senator (Class 1) from New York
1798–1800
Served alongside: John Laurance
Succeeded by