George Folsom
George Folsom | |
---|---|
U.S. Chargé d'affaires to the Netherlands | |
In office 1850–1853 | |
Preceded by | Auguste Davezac |
Succeeded by | August Belmont |
Member of the New York State Senate First District (Class 2) | |
In office 1845–1847 | |
Preceded by | John B. Scott |
Succeeded by | District abolished |
Personal details | |
Born | Kennebunk, Maine, U.S. | May 23, 1802
Died | March 27, 1869 Rome, Kingdom of Italy | (aged 66)
Spouse |
Margaret Cornelia Winthrop
(m. 1839; died 1863) |
Children | 3 |
Education | Phillips Exeter Academy |
Alma mater | Harvard College |
George Folsom (May 23, 1802 – March 27, 1869) was an American lawyer, historian, librarian, diplomat and senator from New York.
Early life
Folsom was born on May 23, 1802, in Kennebunk, York County, District of Maine. He was the son of Thomas Folsom (1769–1844), a jeweler and tavern-keeper, and Edna (née Ela) Folsom (1775–1851). The family moved to Portland, Maine in 1809.
George was educated at Phillip Academy, Andover, MA, and graduated from Harvard College in 1822. Then he studied law with U.S. Attorney Ether Shepley in Saco, Maine, was admitted to the bar, and practiced in Worcester, Massachusetts.
Career
While studying law he prepared the History of Saco and Biddeford (on-line copy; 331 pages) which was published in 1830. In 1831 he was elected a member of the American Antiquarian Society, and was a member of its publishing committee from 1834 to 1837.
About 1837, he removed to New York City, and practiced law there. He also became a member of the New York Historical Society, and was chosen the society's librarian, and one of the secretaries. In 1843, he translated and published The Despatches of Hernando Cortes (on-line copy; 431 pages).
He was an American Republican member of the New York State Senate (1st D.) from 1845 to 1847, sitting in the 68th, 69th and 70th New York State Legislatures. At the 1846 New York state election, he ran on the American ticket for Lieutenant Governor of New York. He was U.S. Chargé d'affaires to the Netherlands from 1850 to 1853.
In 1860, he received the honorary degree of Doctor of law from the University of Vermont.
Personal life
In 1839, Folsom was married to Margaret Cornelia Winthrop (1801–1863), a daughter of Benjamin Winthrop and Judith (née Stuyvesant) Winthrop of New York City. Margaret was a descendant of Peter Stuyvesant, the last Dutch Director-General of New Netherland, and John Winthrop, the 3rd Governor the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Together, they were the parents of three children:
- Margaret Winthrop Folsom (1842–1925), who was committed to an insane asylum when she was twenty-seven.
- Helen Stuyvestant Folsom (1843–1882), who became Sister Helen Margaret, CSJB.
- George Winthrop Folsom (1846–1915), who married Frances Elizabeth Fuller.
Folsom died on March 27, 1869, in Rome, Italy. He was buried at St. Mark's Church in-the-Bowery.
- 1802 births
- 1869 deaths
- People from Kennebunk, Maine
- Lawyers from New York City
- Massachusetts lawyers
- New York (state) lawyers
- New York (state) state senators
- New York (state) Know Nothings
- 19th-century American politicians
- American antiquarians
- Harvard College alumni
- Ambassadors of the United States to the Netherlands
- American librarians
- 19th-century American historians
- 19th-century American male writers
- 19th-century American diplomats
- Burials in New York (state)
- Members of the American Antiquarian Society
- Politicians from New York City
- Historians from New York (state)
- Scientists from New York (state)
- 19th-century American lawyers
- American male non-fiction writers