Luther Badger (April 10, 1785 – October 30, 1868) was an American lawyer and politician from

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

Early life and education

Badger was born in Partridgefield,

Berkshire County, Massachusetts Berkshire County (pronounced ) is a county on the western edge of the U.S. state of Massachusetts. As of the 2020 census, the population was 129,026. Its largest city and traditional county seat is Pittsfield. The county was founded in ...

the son of Lemuel and Sabra (Smith) Badger. In 1786, the family removed to a farm on the bank of the

Susquehanna River The Susquehanna River (; Lenape: Siskëwahane) is a major river located in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, overlapping between the lower Northeast and the Upland South. At long, it is the longest river on the East Coast of the ...

in Harpursville, Broome County, NY. He attended

Hamilton-Oneida Academy Hamilton College is a private liberal arts college in Clinton, Oneida County, New York. It was founded as Hamilton-Oneida Academy in 1793 and was chartered as Hamilton College in 1812 in honor of inaugural trustee Alexander Hamilton, following ...

for two years but did not graduate. During his college career, he taught in the common schools.

Career

In 1807, Badger began to study law with William Eager in Jamesville, and in 1810 entered the law office of Randall & Wattles in New Hartford. In 1811, he married Eunice Wells. He was admitted to the bar in 1812, and practiced in Jamesville until 1824 when he retired from the bar. Badger joined the New York State Militia as a

sergeant major Sergeant major is a senior non-commissioned rank or appointment in many militaries around the world. History In 16th century Spain, the ("sergeant major") was a general officer. He commanded an army's infantry, and ranked about third in the ...

, was promoted to

quartermaster Quartermaster is a military term, the meaning of which depends on the country and service. In land armies, a quartermaster is generally a relatively senior soldier who supervises stores or barracks and distributes supplies and provisions. In m ...

in 1812, eventually became a

brigadier general Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed ...

in 1819, and was

judge advocate Judge-advocates are military lawyers serving in different capacities in the military justice systems of different jurisdictions. Australia The Australian Army Legal Corps (AALC) consists of Regular and Reserve commissioned officers that provi ...

of the 27th Brigade of Infantry from 1820 to 1827 when he retired from military service. Elected as an Adams man to the

19th United States Congress The 19th United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1825, ...

, Badger served as U.S. Representative for the twenty-third district of New York from March 4, 1825, to March 3, 1827. Afterwards, he engaged in mercantile pursuits. In 1832, he returned to his old home in Harpursville and resumed the practice of law. He was District Attorney of Broome County from 1847 to 1849, when he resigned and resumed his private practice in Jordan, NY.

Personal life

On August 28, 1845, he married Betsey (Dimock) Avery, sister of Davis Dimock, Jr.

Death and legacy

Badger died on October 30, 1868, in

Jordan Jordan ( ar, الأردن; tr. ' ), officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan,; tr. ' is a country in Western Asia. It is situated at the crossroads of Asia, Africa, and Europe, within the Levant region, on the East Bank of the Jordan Rive ...

Onondaga County, New York Onondaga County ( ) is a county in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2020 census, the population was 476,516. The county seat is Syracuse. Onondaga County is the core of the Syracuse, NY MSA. History The name ''Onondaga'' derives fro ...

; and was buried at the Jordan Cemetery.

References

External links

*
''The New York Civil List''
compiled by Franklin Benjamin Hough (pages 71 and 370; Weed, Parsons and Co., 1858)
''Monthly Biographical Magazine''
edited by John Livingston (New York and London, 1852; pages 117ff, with portrait)
''The New York Annual Register''
by Edwin Williams (New York, 1834; page 330)
''The Papers of Henry Clay''
(Vol. 6; page 529) {{DEFAULTSORT:Badger, Luther 1785 births 1868 deaths People from Peru, Massachusetts Hamilton College (New York) alumni County district attorneys in New York (state) People from New Hartford, New York American militia generals National Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from New York (state) People from DeWitt, New York People from Colesville, New York People from Jordan, New York 19th-century American politicians Military personnel from Massachusetts