Bainbridge Wadleigh

Bainbridge Wadleigh
United States Senator from New Hampshire
In office March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1879
Preceded by	James W. Patterson
Succeeded by	Charles H. Bell
Member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives
In office 1855–1856 1859–1860 1869–1872
Personal details
Born	January 4, 1831 Bradford, New Hampshire
Died	January 24, 1891 (aged 60) Boston, Massachusetts
Political party	Republican

Bainbridge Wadleigh (January 4, 1831 – January 24, 1891) was a United States Senator from New Hampshire. Born in Bradford, he attended the common schools and Kimball Union Academy (Meriden, New Hampshire). He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1850 and commenced practice in Milford. Wadleigh served six terms as town moderator and was a member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives in 1855-1856, 1859-1860, and from 1869 to 1872.

United States Senate

Wadleigh was nominated to the U.S. Senate on the evening of June 13, 1872 by the Republican party caucus of the New Hampshire legislature, on its fifth ballot. He received the nomination instead of the incumbent Senator James W. Patterson, who had led on the first three caucus ballots. Wadleigh had not sought the office, and received 3 votes on the first ballot. In the succeeding second through fourth ballots, he received 8, 18, and 39 votes respectively. On the fifth ballot Wadleigh received 152 votes, and 58 were received by all others. The other individuals on the fifth ballot were Edward H. Rollins (former congressman and future U.S. senator), Onslow Stearns (the recent governor), Mason W. Tappan (former congressman and later New Hampshire Attorney General), and Gilman Marston (former congressman).^[1][2] Elected by the New Hampshire legislature to the U.S. Senate, he served from March 4, 1873, to March 3, 1879.

Charles H. Bell was Wadleigh's immediate successor, and had been appointed to fill the Senate seat for several months, until the most recently elected New Hampshire legislature could convene. Wadleigh attempted to obtain the nomination from the New Hampshire Republican legislative caucus, but Henry W. Blair received the nomination after several ballots, and was later elected to the Senate by the legislataure, in 1879.

While in the Senate he was chairman of the Committee on Patents (Forty-fourth and Forty-fifth Congresses) and a member of the Committee on Privileges and Elections (Forty-fifth Congress).

He resumed the practice of law in Boston, where he died in 1891; interment was in West Street Cemetery, Milford.

Notes

1. "New Hampshire: Nomination of Bainbridge Wadleigh for United States Senator at the Republican Caucus.". New York Times. New York Times. June 14, 1872. p. 1. Retrieved May 5, 2008.
2. "New Hampshire: The Nomination of Hon. Bainbridge Wadleigh for United States Senator -- His Speech of Acceptance" (PDF). New York Times. June 16, 1872. p. 6. Retrieved May 5, 2008.

References

• United States Congress. "Bainbridge Wadleigh (id: W000009)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.