Elizur Goodrich Jr. (1761 - 1849)

Born 24 Mar 1761 in Durham, Middlesex, Connecticut

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 2 Nov 1849 at age 88 in New Haven, Connecticut, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Edward Dunscombe [send private message]

Biography

Elizur Goodrich Jr. is Notable.

U. S. Congressman 1799-1801 Mayor of New Haven, 1803-22

Elizur Goodrich was born 24 Mar 1761 in Durham, Massachusetts to Elizur Goodrich, D.D. and Katherine Chauncey. He married Anne Willard Allen on 1 Sep 1785.

Elizur died 2 Nov 1849 in New Haven, Connecticut.

From obituary found at Find A Grave:

US Congressman. After graduating from Yale College in 1779, he studied law, was admitted to the bar and commenced to practice law in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1783. He was a member of the Connecticut State House of Representatives. In 1799, he was elected as a Federalist to the Sixth Congress, serving until he resigned in 1801. He then was appointed by President John Adams collector of customs at New Haven and elected in 1803, to the Connecticut Governor’s council, serving until 1818. In addition, he was professor of law at Yale College, judge of the probate court, chief judge of the New Haven County Court, a member of the New Haven City Council, Mayor of New Haven and a member of the corporation of Yale College. His brother Chauncey Goodrich, was also a United States Congressman.

Anecdote

Transcribed from Case: "graduated Yale in 1779, and was tutor there for the next two years; received LL.D. in 1830.

"On the landing of the troops, July 5, 1779, he joined a company of about a hundred in number, who went out, under the command of James Hillhouse, to annoy and retard the march of the enemy. Toward evening, when the town was taken and given up to ravage and plunder, he was stabbed near the heart by a British soldier, as he lay on his bed in a state of extreme exhaustion, and barely escaped with his life.".

He began the practice of law in New Haven in 1783; was chosen a member of congress in 1799, and in 1801 was appointed collector of the port of New Haven; was also for many years in the legislature of Connecticut; was judge of the county court for thirteen and judge of probate for seventeen years, and mayor of New Haven from 1803 to 1822; was professor of law in Yale College for nine years, resigning the office in 1810.

Mr. Goodrich was distinguished for exact scholarship, the clearness and strength of his judgment, and the ease and accuracy with which he transacted business. "His reading was extensive and minute; and what is unusual, he maintained his acquaintance to read the writings of Cicero, Livy, Sallust, Virgil, and Horace till his eighty-ninth year, with all the ease and interest of his early days.".

His cordial manner, extensive information, and genial humor, combined with unusual conversational powers, made his presence in society particularly agreeable. He professed his faith in Christ soon after leaving college, and his life throughout was that of a consistent and earnest Christian. ^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ Source: #S2 page 127 and 128

• Wikipedia contributors, "Elizur Goodrich," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Elizur_Goodrich&oldid=1068646913 (accessed February 15, 2022).
• Source: S2 The Goodrich Family in America. A Genealogy of the Descendants of John and William Goodrich of Wethersfield, Conn., Richard Goodrich of Guilford, Conn., and William Goodridge of Watertown, Mass. Lafayette Wallace Case M.D., Author Role: Editor Publication: Fergus Printing Company, Chicago, Illinois, 1889, Second Date, 1984
• Find a Grave memorial #8477914, Elizur Goodrich, Jr, b. 24 Mar 1761, d. 2 Nov 1849.

Notes

U. S. Congressman 1799-1801 [Source: The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans: Volume IV]

--------------------------

GOODRICH, Elizur, representative, was born in Durham, Conn., March 24, 1761; son of the Rev. Elizur Goodrich, fellow of Yale college.

He was graduated at Yale A.B., 1779; A.M., 1782. He studied law; was a tutor in Yale, 1781-83; lawyer in New Haven, Conn., 1783-99; presidential elector in 1797, and a representative in the 6th congress, 1799-1801. He was collector of customs by appointment of President John Adams, 1801, but was removed by President Jefferson the same year and this action was the occasion for Jefferson to announce his approval of the spoils system which he denominated "removal for political opinion." He was probate judge for seventeen years, judge of the county court twelve years, professor of law in Yale college from the foundation of the chair in 1801 to 1810; mayor of New Haven, 1803-22; secretary of the corporation of Yale college, 1816-46, and received from that institution the degree of LL.D. in 1830. He died in New Haven, Conn., Nov. 1, 1849.

The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans: Volume IV