SEYMOUR
SEYMOUR
Marcy, 1833-39; was a Democratic member of
the state assembly, 1841-45, and speaker in 1845;
mayor of Utica, 184'2-43; Democratic caiulidate
for "governor of the sUite in 1850; was a delegate
to the Democratic national convention held at
Baltimore in 1852, and voted for William L. Mar-
cy for President. He was elected governor of
New York in 1852, defeating Gov. Washington
Hunt by a large majority
and was defeated in 1S54 by
the Whig and Temperance
candidate. Myron H. Clark.
He was a delegate to the
Democratic national con-
vention held at Cincinnati
in 1856. and voted for James
Buchanan for President. Upon Buchanan's elec-
tion he was offered a foreign mission, which
he declined. He supported the administration
in 18G1 and made many speeches in its behalf.
He was re-elected governor of the state in 1863,
and was conspicuous for his ability in raising
troops, and for that service received the per-
sonal thanks of President Lincoln. While the
state troops were absent in Pennsylvania, the
draft riots broke out in New York city, and
Governor Seymour was successful in reducing
tiie excessive number of men apportioned to
New York, but the draft was begun Satur-
day. July 11, 1863, and from Sunday till Thurs-
day the city was at the mercy of the rioters,
many lives were lost and millions of dollars worth
of property was destroyed. Governor Seymour
appearerl at the City Hall, Lssued a proclamation
on Sunday, July 12, declaring the city to be in a
state of insurrection and ordering all rioters to
return to their homes and employment. He
made numerous public speeches to the mob and
was largely instrumental in subduing the excite-
ment. The state legislature passed a resolution,
April 16. 18.54. thanking him for having procured
a correction of the errors in regard to the draft.
He was defeated for governor by Reuben E. Fen-
ton in 1864, and in August, 1804, was president
of the Democratic national convention held at
Chicago, which nominated George B. McClellan
for President. He was president of the state con- '
ventions of 1867 and 1868, and was chairman of
the Democratic national convention of 1868, that
met in Tammany Hall. New York city, and
against his earnest protest he received the nom-
ination from the convention for Democratic can-
didate for the office of FYesident of the United
States, with Frank P. Blair, Jr., for Vice-Pres-
ident. The Grant and Colfax electors received a
popular vote of 3,015,071, and the Seymour and
Blair electors 2.709,615. and in 1869, on the meet-
ing of the electoral collpge. the Tlepublican ticket
received 274 and the Democratic ticket 80 elec-
toral votes. He declined a senatorship of New
York and the nomination for governor in 1869.
Having removed to Deerfield, N.Y,, in 1864, he
thereafter engaged in farming. He was a com-
missioner of state fisheries; a member of the
state survey in 1876; presidential elector-at-large
from New York on the Tilden and Hendricks ticket
in 1876; i)resident of the board of commissioners
of state survey in l.s78; president of the National
Dairymen's association and of the American Pri-
son association, and first president of the Oneida
Historical societ3\ The lionorary degree of LL.D.
was conferred on him by Norwich university in
1859, and by Union college in 1873. He died at
the home of his sister, Julia Seymour Conkling,
wife of Roscoe Conkling, former U.S. senator, in
Utica, N.Y".. Feb. 12, 1886.
SEYMOUR, Mary Harrison (Browne) , author, was born in Oxford, Conn., Sept. 7, 1835; daugh- ter of the Rev. Abraham and Lucy Maria (Har- rison) Browne; granddaughter of Abraham and Anna (Hale) Browne and of Simeon and Hannah (Farnum) Harrison. She attended the academies of Brooklyn, N.Y., and Baltimore, Md., and was married, June 20, 1861, to the Rev. Storrs O. Sey- mour of Litclifield, Conn. She contributed many stories to children's magazines and is the author of: Sunshine and Starlight (1869): Ned, Nellie and Amy (1870); Mollies Christmas Stockitig (is:':); Posy Vinton's Picnic (1877); Every Day (1877); Recompense (1881); Tlirough the Dark- ness (1893).
SEYMOUR, Origen Storrs, jurist, was born in Litchfield, Conn.. Feb. 9, 1804; son of Ozias and grandson of Major Moses Seymour. He was graduated from Y'ale college, A.B.. 1824, A.M., 1827, and was admitted to the bar in 1826. He was clerk of Litchfield county, 1836-44, a repre- sentative in the Connecticut legislature, 1842 and 1849-50; being speaker of the house in 1850, and was a Democratic representative in the 32d and 33d congresses, 1851-55. He was judge of the superior court of Connecticut, 1855-63; was the imsuccessful candidate of the Democratic party for governor of the state in 1864; was elected by the state legislature then controlled by the Republicans, a judge of the state supreme court, and in 1873 he succeeded as chief justice, re- tiring in 1874 having reached the age limit. He was chairman of the commission that settled the boundary between New York and Connecti- cut in 1876; was chairman of the commission tliat prepared the state practice act: was an an- nual lecturer at the Yale Law school, 1876-81; and was again elected a representative in the state legislature in 1881. The honorary degree of LL.D. was conferred on him by Trinity col- lege in 1866 and by Yale in 1873. He died in Litchfield, Conn., Aug. 12, 1881.
