Smith Meade Purdy (July 31, 1796 – March 30, 1870) was an American lawyer and politician who served one term as a

U.S. Representative The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they c ...

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 * '' ...

from 1843 to 1845.

Biography

Born in

North Norwich, New York North Norwich is a town in Chenango County, New York, United States. The population was 1,783 at the 2010 census. The town is directly north of the City of Norwich in the eastern half of the county. History The first settlement began ''circ ...

, Purdy attended the common schools. He studied law. He was

admitted to the bar An admission to practice law is acquired when a lawyer receives a license to practice law. In jurisdictions with two types of lawyer, as with barristers and solicitors, barristers must gain admission to the bar whereas for solicitors there are dist ...

and commenced practice at

Sherburne, New York Sherburne is a town in Chenango County, New York, United States. The population was 4,048 at the 2010 census. The town contains two villages, Sherburne and Earlville. The town is at the northern border of Chenango County. History The area th ...

, in 1819. He moved to

Norwich, New York Norwich is a city and county seat of Chenango County, New York, United States. Surrounded on all sides by the Town of Norwich,. The name is taken from Norwich, England. Its population was 7,190 at the 2010 census. Lt. Warren Eaton Airport ...

, in 1827 and continued the practice of law. He was appointed judge of the court of common pleas and surrogate of Chenango County in 1833 and served until his resignation in 1837.

Congress

Purdy was elected as a

Democrat Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (United States) (D) **Democratic ...

to the Twenty-eighth Congress (March 4, 1843 – March 3, 1845). He was not a candidate for renomination in 1844.

Later career and death

He resumed the practice of law. Purdy was elected judge and surrogate of Chenango County in 1847 and served until 1851. He declined a renomination owing to poor health and retired from active pursuits. He died in

, March 30, 1870. He was interred in Mount Hope Cemetery.

Sources

{{DEFAULTSORT:Purdy, Smith Meade 1796 births 1870 deaths Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from New York (state) New York (state) state court judges 19th-century American politicians 19th-century American judges